[pure-silver] Re: Silver Recovery
- From: "Richard Knoppow" <dickburk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <pure-silver@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Thu, 27 Dec 2007 20:14:14 -0800
----- Original Message -----
From: "Mark Blackwell" <mblackwell1958@xxxxxxxxx>
To: <pure-silver@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Thursday, December 27, 2007 5:40 PM
Subject: [pure-silver] Silver Recovery
I am finally ready to build the silver recovery system I
have been planning for some time. Id welcome comments.
First I have tons of old dc wall transformers that are
left over from things like old telephones, answering
machines and any of a host of electrical devices. As long
as its DC current it should work. Yet I may have some
choice of voltages, if there is an ideal voltage I should
look for Id appreciate it. I think most of the old ones
are in the 6 to 12 volt range.
It will be plugged into a power strip that is plugged into
a GFI socket. I guess it could be plugged into the GFI
directly, but it wouldn't be as easy. Still as long as
the strip is plugged into the GFI, it should be relatively
safe.
As far as circulation I am planning to use an air pump to
just move the water around enough to allow enough
circulation around the electrodes to keep it working. As
far as the electrode material, I know one has to be copper
but can't both be or does the other electrode need to be a
different material such as stainless. I have a couple of
options on how to attach the wires. The copper side I am
planning on using a piece of either copper plumbing pipe
or heavier copper wire.
As far as the container, I am planning to use a large
plastic type of tote Rubber will be ideal if I can find
it, but it sure won't be metal.
What am I missing now before I actually start building?
I did a Google search but did not find any specific
instructions. However, a more thorough search may turn
something up. From what I did find it appears that in-line
electrolytic recovery is not trivial to implement. The
advantages of the technique is that it can regenerate fixing
baths or bleach-fixing baths. Also the purity of the
recovered silver is high. However, in order to dispose of
the baths they must be subsequently treated with some other
kind of recovery device such as a metallic replacement
system or activated charcoal filter because the silver level
is too high to meet environmental protection standards.
In terms of cost a metallic replacement filter appears
to be best. These are not suitable for regnerating purposes
but can reduce the silver content of spent solutions to the
point where they are no longer environmental hazards, at
least not from the silver, but the recovered silver may be
worth the effort. One site I looked at estimated the value
of the silver from a spent B&W fixing bath at around $1.50
US (sounds a little high to me). color processes remove all
the silver from the film so the value of the recovered
silver may be even higher.
---
Richard Knoppow
Los Angeles, CA, USA
dickburk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
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