adianadiadi
Registered Member
I would like to know what is the procedure involved in extracting silver from X-ray films. Exactly what is the chemistry involved....................
What is the procedure to extract silver from X-ray films?
- Thread starter adianadiadi
- Start date
You heat up the film in a solution with an excess of a type of anion that forms a soluble silver salt and then use electrolysis on the strained soup to extract the metal.
https://www.researchgate.net/public...Waste_Radiographic_Films_by_Chemical_Leaching
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/0304386X86900125
https://www.researchgate.net/public...Waste_Radiographic_Films_by_Chemical_Leaching
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/0304386X86900125
Should be able to find easily online. We used to 'strip' Ag from photo fixer solutions by simply throwing-in a few steel wool (non-soaped) bundles. Fe replaces Ag in solution, Ag precipitates.
DaveC426913
Valued Senior Member
WARNING: Check safety specs on this BEFORE attempting it.
My knowledge may be a little out-of-date, but at one time, this film was extremely flammable and the fumes highly toxic. You REALLY don;t want to be doing this unless you know what you're doing and take proper safety precautions against fumes and fire.
My knowledge may be a little out-of-date, but at one time, this film was extremely flammable and the fumes highly toxic. You REALLY don;t want to be doing this unless you know what you're doing and take proper safety precautions against fumes and fire.
Dave: You may be thinking about the really 'old' days (up till the 1950's, or so). The film base then was highly flammable (and explosive!) nitrocellulose. More recent filmbase was not as toxic. Still, your advice (caution) should be heeded for any method.
Another precious metals recovery source is old/vintage high-vacuum equipment. Up until about the 1970's high-vacuum connection gaskets were often made of GOLD!!
DaveC426913
Valued Senior Member
Granted, I've never heard of the steel wool method.
I think it matters much if we are talking about exposed and developed X-ray film in which case most of the silver salt has been washed out in processing and what remains is metal. In unexposed film, most of the silver is in salt form so simple dissolving the gelatin puts the silver in solutions and there might be snazzy trick to precipitate out the metal.