Ed Sukach said:
Aha! A possible light at the end of the tunnel.
What is this "EPA 13 Priority Pollutant Metals list"?. Where can I obtain a copy?
Any idea of the "adverse effects"??
Ed, In the United States, the Code of Federal Regulations - also known as "CFR", contains the laws that the federal government has enacted. Title 40 CFR, "Protection of Environment" contains regulations that the US government has enacted upon different industries. Before we get to the preface for photographic discharge, you may want to know that a "point source" is a stationary location or fixed facility from which pollutants are discharged or emitted. Any single identifiable source of pollution, such as a pipe or factory smokestack or a pipe that discharges wastewater/effluent into a sewer system is a point source.
[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 40, Volume 26]
[Revised as of July 1, 2002]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 40CFR459.10]
[Page 510]
TITLE 40--PROTECTION OF ENVIRONMENT
CHAPTER I--ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (CONTINUED)
PART 459--PHOTOGRAPHIC POINT SOURCE CATEGORY--Table of Contents
Subpart A--Photographic Processing Subcategory
Sec. 459.10 Applicability; description of the photographic processing subcategory.
The provisions of this subpart are applicable to point source
discharges resulting from the development or printing of paper prints,
slides, negatives, enlargements, movie film, and other sensitized
materials except that facilities processing 150 sq. meters (1600 sq.
feet) per day or less are not covered. Both commercial and military
facilities are covered by this subpart.
End of Quote-
So if anyone here, is in the USA, and they process more than 150 sq. m. of film a day, you will have to follow the regulations listed in 40 CFR Part 459. If you produce less, you are not required to. Of course, if you are below that limit and still want to reclaim silver, great - go for it!
For those that don't like to click on supplied links, here's what they have to say on regulatory limits - note that the units are listed in kg of pollutant per 1000 sq. m. of processed product...
(a) The following limitations establish the quantity or quality of
pollutants or pollutant properties, controlled by this paragraph, which
may be discharged from a photographic processing point source subject to
the provisions of this paragraph after application of the best
practicable control technology currently available:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Effluent limitations
-----------------------------
Column 1 - Maximum for any 1 day
Column 2 - Averages of daily values for 30 consecutive days shall not exceed-
-
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Metric units (kilograms per 1,000 m^2 of product)
Ag........................................ 0.14 ............ 0.07
CN........................................ 0.18 ............ 0.09
pH........................................ (\1\) ............(\1\)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(\1\) Within the pH range 6.0 to 9.0.
If you want more info, try this page:
www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_02/40cfr459_02.html
If you are really getting interested regulatory issues, follow this link:
http://www.epa.gov/fedsite/medical/photo.html
This link is from theEPA and it gives information specifically for medical film processing but the advice it gives will certainly apply to regular commercial processors as well.
It covers some info on the National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) - which also has regulations about what can be discharged out of your sewer pipe. it says that 5 mg/L of Silver is the limit for discharge under NPDES. It also lists some other compounds of concern as well.
Kirk -
www.keyesphoto.com