Partially oxidized polyalkyleneimine antioxidant for photographic developers

Abstract

The present invention relates to a developer comprising a developing agent and a polyalkyleneimine antioxidant being formed by the condensation of a number of alkyleneimine units and having the following formula (I): wherein R1, R2 and R3 independently represent an unsubstituted or substituted alkylene group or R2 may be H; x and y independently represent an integer from 1 to 39,999; the sum of x and y represents an integer from 10 to 40,000; and wherein the amine groups of the antioxidant have been partially oxidized with hydrogen peroxide or a compound capable of generating hydrogen peroxide, prior to the introduction of the developing agent. In a preferred embodiment, the antioxidant has been partially oxidized such that the amount of hydroxylammonium groups formed is less than half the total equivalent of the original amine before the addition of the developing agent. The developer may optionally comprise an alkaline buffer.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.