Sound technical content, curated with aloha by
Ted Mooney, P.E. RET
Pine Beach, NJ
The authoritative public forum
for Metal Finishing since 1989
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Silver extraction from waste hypo/fixer solution
Q. I need silver recovery method for film.
I have some research with burning system.
Pratama Kurnia Wisnu Brata- South Jakarta, Indonesia
2004
Q. Dear sir/madam,
Please give me the details of graphite anode used in silver extraction machine or silver recovery machine from fixer solution (chemical). The density of graphite , the surface should ruf or smooth wether carbon anode can be used.
Abhijeet Patilabhijeet enterprises - BELGAUM , KARNATAKA, INDIA
2004
2004
Q. Respected sir,
I request you to send information about how to prepare machine (what are the equipments need.) And also I am trying to build up a machine, but I do not know. Followings are my inquiries...
1. we don't know the type of metal for cathode and anode rod.
2. how much potential of DC voltage we have to give.
3. the full idea of prepare machine (silver extraction from waste hypo/fixer, x ray films)
4. and also please specify the density and surface finish of the graphite electrode and wether carbon electrode can be used and which.
Please send the answer of these questions as much as possible.
Thanking you yours truly,
student - Karnataka, India
2005
Q. Dear sir
I heard silver recovery from waste hypo by only chemical no need machinery, is it possible? if possible please tell me how.
Sincerely
Saeedul Haquemanufacturer - Dhaka, Bangladesh
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Ed. note: Hi Saeedul. A.F. van Riet just told us 4 postings up from yours. Good luck :-)
A. The easiest way to extract pure silver from photography fixer is using pure copper. If you put pure copper in a solution of spent fixer, the copper will exchange place with the silver ions, since copper is more reactive. This gives you a coating of pure silver on the outside of the copper. It can be scraped off with relative ease. I'm not sure if it would be cost effective for industrial uses, but for just playing around with photo chemicals, it's the best thing. No electrolysis or anything fancy required at all. Just some copper wire you can get from a hardware store.
Patrick Ranval- Paducah, Kentucky, United States
2005
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Ed. note: 
Thanks, Patrick!
Q. Dear sir,
I want to start the business that is to extract silver from Hypo Water. Can you guide me about how to proceed or the training center available at Chennai.
Thanking you
Yours sincerely,
Hospital Administration - Chennai, Tamilnadu, India
2005
!! Geez, people, silver is only $7.5 US/oz. Just BUY your damn silver, as much as you need. It's cheaper than setting up a toxic chemical lab.
Jason Lee- Santa Ego, California
2005
Q. Respected sir,
Please tell me the process of making silver from hypo bleach and fixer. Myself kedar nath talwar got the answer of my previous question. I am thankful for it please clear me that how much of sodium thiosulphate
⇦this on
eBay
or
Amazon [affil links]
is used in a liter, and please let me know what kind of testing paper is there to calculate the silver in 1 liter.
r.p industries - Delhi, India
2005
2005
Q. Dear sir,
I am running small scale industry in my house on extraction of silver from waste photographic hypo (fixer) solution .I have invested nearly 50,000 INR for electrolytic machine and solution.But I could not get even a gram of silver.I am the sole breadwinner of the family and rely much upon this.
I have purchased hypo solution which is colourless with fine black particles settled at the bottom solution which I purchased from color lab is syrupy red wine coloured.I tried electrolysis with both the solutions but I am failed.
I want to know what type of solution I should buy(physical appearance) ?
What is the chemical composition of black particles in the solution?
Is it possible to extract silver by electrolysis under normal conditions?
Is there any other chemical process to get silver from above said solution?
I will be much obliged if you respond this at the earliest.
Small scale industry - Tumkur, INDIA
Q. Sir,
I'm a small scale businessman in silver extraction business since 25 yrs. I'm doing good business but I would like to know about the latest process and chemicals used to extract the same. I use sodium hydroxide to wash the films, which is cost incurring. I hereby request you to tell me more about cost reducing process.
Thank you.
reshma enterprises - Solapur, Maharashtra, India
2005
2005
Q. Dear sir,
I am planning to set up an silver extracting industry. I want to extract the silver through "ELECTROLYSIS METHOD".
Please answer my following questions:
1)How to assemble an electrolysis machine.
2)what are the spare parts required.
3)Procedure of assembling.
4)Estimated cost.
5)what are the measures to be taken for the maximum extraction of silver.
6)I have come to know that the fixer used by paper industry, multicolour off set printing and fixer used by aeronautical engineers (gamma rays)for more purity. is it correct? what do you suggest?
7)In general were can we find spares of the machine.
I will be very much thank full for the best and early reply.
student - Seunderabad, Andhra Pradesh, INDIA
Q. I wish to know about the silver extraction method from waste hypo solution and the details about the machine and tools using the extraction. Especially India or ...
which are the training centers in India.
which are the websites for detail information about this.
from,
- Parli Vaijnath, Maharashtra, India
2005
Q. Please let me know the silver extraction process, like electrolysis or any other method available for extracting from Fixer solution and please let me know briefly the Cathode and Anode metals used also Voltage to be used .
Thanks ,
Silver India - Pune, India
2005
Q. Please I want to know if there is anything like salt or alkaline I need to add in the processing of fixer to get my silver in a good quantity I mean large quantity.
Kenneth Mgbeahurufoto printing - Aba abia state, Nigeria
2005
Hi Kenneth. Recovery isn't magic -- you can't recover silver that isn't there :-)
How much silver is there by chemical analysis vs. how much you have been able to recover?
Regards,
Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
2006
Q. I am very seriously thinking about setting up a silver extraction unit with capacity of approx. 300 grams/day. I wish to have a clear picture about the following points.
Enquiries:
1) How much silver can really be extracted in terms of grams/liter from an used fixer in saturated state ? And what can be the % of purity of this extracted silver ? At what price can it be sold at the current market price?
2) Can the fixer solution after extraction of silver be again reused for photographic development purpose? If so, at what price it can be sold to the consumer? Is there any qualitative difference with a
"fresh"solution ?
3) What is really the difference between Fixer and Hypo? Would you please give me clear idea on that? I do not have any.
4)Can there be any quantitative difference in silver content in different used fixer/hypo solutions procured from different sources viz., one from photography unit, the other from X-ray clinic, still other from offset printing unit or CT scan clinic etc.?
5) Can the film scraps also be utilized for silver extraction purpose?
6) How much hazards are involved in this trade, from health point of view? What precautions are to be taken ?
I have come across a plant manufacturer who claims they can provide an automatic plant with a capacity of 300 grams/day or higher capacity, which requires no other input except used fixer and can produce 10 grams of pure silver from one lit.of saturated fixer solution. What should be my checkpoints before deciding on it?
I am completely new in this field and practically I do not have any idea on it, though I am seriously interested to start it without much delay. So I would be highly grateful to get your valuable suggestions on this trade.
With regards, Yours sincerely,
Tarun Bansalhobbyist - NOIDA, Uttar Pradesh, India
Q. I am not aware how to dispose or sell hypo waste solution generated from our x-ray clinic. It is about 5000 liters collected over a period of time. I also want to know if it is a environment hazard. I do not have the time or will to extract silver from the same. If somebody is interested he can collect the same from me for research or scientific studies.
Vijay PantanePantane Healthcare Solutions - Nagpur, mah, India
2006
Q. We have a research project about extraction of silver from x-ray films. I wonder how to test its purity and its malleability? Thanks!
Charley May M. Doradostudent - Laguna, Philippines
2006
Q. I am a photographic machinist, I am looking for information on how to extract the silver from used fixer from a photographic process. Just something simple I play with at home. What type of machine do I look for and what is the name of the machine? What voltage and current should I apply? Thank you in advance
TUNDE ADEDIRANStar photo laboratory - Abidjan, Ivory Coast
2006
Sir, I purchased silver extracting machine from Silvo India, but I am unable to get even 1 gm of silver. Please tell me the chemical methods to get silver from used x-ray films, hypo, bleach fixer, etc. Thank you.
Rajesh Kumarteacher - Badshahpur, Gurgaon, HR, India
2006
Q. Silver extraction through chemicals is very dangerous to human life? Why, because a bad smell is coming while using the chemical. If we inhale the smell, does any problem will be come in future in our body and what are the precautions to be taken?
Robin- Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
2006
Q. I have been is silver extraction business for last 6 yrs, I found that electrolysis method can't extract all silver completely from the waste hypo, yield 2 grams/liter, where silver quantity was 7 grams/liter which I used (hypo). Now I would like to try chemical process on the same used hypo for the extraction of the remaining silver. But I have no idea about chemical process. Can you give me the complete process (chemical) details A to Z,thanks.
Mr Pranjal Hassconsumer - Guwahati, Assam, India
2006
Q. Dear Sir,
I am writing to you in good faith and good will.
I had fixer solution and my problem is the next procedure.
Could you please tell me the next step to obtain silver from the solution that I must conduct?
Thank You in advance, Sir.
Respectfully yours,
- San Juan, Batangas, Philippines
2006
Q. I had printing plate film fixer and photographic fixer solution. Already I've done silver recovery in precipitation method form COD waste.
Now I want to know how to precipitate silver from silver thiosulphate waste
please send any easy method to precipitate the silver
thanking you sir.
chezian
global off set printing plate factory - Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
2007
Q. May I have some info about metal replacement system in silver recovery. If you can't help me, will you please direct me to where I could get information about it.
Thanks,
Radiology Dept. of Hospital - Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam
2007
A. Please go to www.patentstorm.us/patents/5064466-description.html
You will find info about non toxic process of recovering silver from photographic and x ray films. It is somebody patent invention so please check if you have to pay for it.
good luck,
- Brunei darussalam
2007
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