Method and system for processing of photographic materials

A photographic processing system comprising:

• at least one processing stage;
• a by-product concentration monitor to monitor the concentration of a process-retarding by-product of the process in the processing stage;
• apparatus adapted to reduce the concentration of said by-product in the processing solution by a first method;
• and,
• apparatus adapted to simultaneously operating a second method for a period of time, operation of the second method being activated as the by-product concentration in the processing solution exceeds a predetermined level thereby to ensure that the photographic material is always adequately processed in which the second method comprises one or more of:
• (a) increasing the temperature of the processing solution;
• (b) diluting the processing solution;
• reducing the amount of photographic material being processed per unit time;
• and
• (d) employing additional apparatus for by-product removal from the processing stage, such as electrolytic recovery, metallic replacement or ion-exchange units.

A photographic processing system comprising:

• at least one processing stage:
• a by-product concentration monitor to monitor the concentration of a process-retarding by-product of the process in the processing stage;
• apparatus adapted to reduce the concentration of said by-product in the processing solution by a first method;
• and,
• apparatus adapted to simultaneously operating a second method for a period of time, operation of the second method being activated as the by-product concentration in the processing solution exceeds a predetermined level thereby to ensure that the photographic material is always adequately processed wherein the apparatus adapted to reduce the concentration of by-product in the processing solution by a first method comprises an electrolytic recovery unit.