Silver Recovery

richard ide · Jun 15, 2011

Greetings,
The electrolytic recovery unit I used had about 75 square inches of anode and the stainless cathode was a drum open top and bottom; motor driven at about 50 rpm; m about 7" diameter by 8" height. the cathode area was about 250 square inch total surface area. I think maximum current was about 2 amps

Randy D · Sep 15, 2011

I have 30 troy ounces of recovered silver...looking for a buyer!

Neal · Sep 15, 2011

Dear Randy D,

Try silverprofit.com. I think they reclaim as well as sell equipment.

Neal Wydra

Garry71 · Sep 29, 2011

Instead of iron wool, could you use iron filings?

removed account4 · Sep 29, 2011

hi garry

you probably can ... iron/steel wool has a large surface area to swap ions with
and it won't just sit as a lump at the bottom of your tank ...

john

inlarry · Jun 30, 2012

The traditional silver reclaiming processes use steel wool. The soluble silver swaps with the iron in a chemical reaction and reduces to rusty water.

The issue with silver isn't as a "heavy metal" but in its antimicrobial properties. It will, or can at least, cause dead zones in waterways as a result of this. In sewer systems a common issue cited is runaway algae growth. Silver inhibits the growth of bacteria and other micro organisms, so the aluminum process (though i'm uncertain of its viability) would eliminate the issues associated with silver.

As a side note, does anyone know someway to sell the reclaimed silver? Most places I know only accept it if you're using their reclamation hardware.

removed account4 · Jul 1, 2012

hi inlarry

i sell silver recovery products. the magnets you sell to a refiner, the steel wool you can't.
the trickle tanks ( which are an iron or steel wool core &c and do the ion transfer ) unless you are in canada
you have to pay about 70$ USD to have it refined.

with the magnets, you send the cathode loaded with silver to a refiner ( if you want ) the bag is included with the unit.
they will mail you a check for about 90% of the value of the silver ( spot price * weight of the silver flake( less about 10% refining fee ).
in canada and the UK/EU the refiners lined up to work with silver magnet users do the same, about 90% ... and in canada they will pay for shipping, AND if you have a trickle tank they will give you $$ for the silver in that as well.

good luck !
john

inlarry · Jul 1, 2012

OK, so just curious do any of the refiners return the silver to you, or is it always bought by them and you just get a check?

removed account4 · Jul 1, 2012

hi inlarry

on the cathode it is 99% silver flake (from what i understand),

so you can ... you can hoard it, sell it to jewelers, or do whatever you want with it ...
i know of some folks that just save it, and when the spot price of silver climbs, they send it to be refined ..
the refiners that are "lined up" to help with the magnet, don't charge minimums &c so there are no
extra costs, you can have it refined locally if you want ( or find a waste hauler to take it ) but i don't know
what sort of payment they will offer ...

the trickle tanks ... i think there is more than just silver flake on
the bits of steel wool/iron &c, but i am not really sure ...

newcan1 · Jul 2, 2012

I was thinking the recovered silver could be added to nitric acid to make cheap silver nitrate, so one could make one's own film.

removed account4 · Jul 2, 2012

newcan1 said:
I was thinking the recovered silver could be added to nitric acid to make cheap silver nitrate, so one could make one's own film.

Dead Link Removed

newcan1 · Jul 2, 2012

jnanian said:
Dead Link Removed

Yes indeed, the experiment should be conducted outdoors. Children, do not try this at home.

Funny at the end he says silver nitrate is $40 for 100g. Ah, the good old days.

inlarry · Jul 2, 2012

So how much does the cathode system run, as far as purchase price?

jnanian said:
hi inlarry

on the cathode it is 99% silver flake (from what i understand),

so you can ... you can hoard it, sell it to jewelers, or do whatever you want with it ...
i know of some folks that just save it, and when the spot price of silver climbs, they send it to be refined ..
the refiners that are "lined up" to help with the magnet, don't charge minimums &c so there are no
extra costs, you can have it refined locally if you want ( or find a waste hauler to take it ) but i don't know
what sort of payment they will offer ...

the trickle tanks ... i think there is more than just silver flake on
the bits of steel wool/iron &c, but i am not really sure ...

removed account4 · Jul 2, 2012

the magnet is 56$ + 14 shipping in the usa
outside of the usa the shipping is more.
replacement cathodes cost 22$ + shipping

thanks for your interest !
john

inlarry · Jul 2, 2012

Wow, that's actually a lot less than I expected. How does this unit work? Does it sit in a tank you dump your chemicals into, or does it actually sit in your trays during use, or is it some other method? Up til now I've always just dumped mine down the drain, but with the current spot price of silver I'm starting to think, that at this price, it may be worth my time to recover. I understand the recovered product is 99% pure, is that true?

jnanian said:
the magnet is 56$ + 14 shipping in the usa
outside of the usa the shipping is more.
replacement cathodes cost 22$ + shipping

thanks for your interest !
john

removed account4 · Jul 4, 2012

inlarry said:
Wow, that's actually a lot less than I expected. How does this unit work? Does it sit in a tank you dump your chemicals into, or does it actually sit in your trays during use, or is it some other method? Up til now I've always just dumped mine down the drain, but with the current spot price of silver I'm starting to think, that at this price, it may be worth my time to recover. I understand the recovered product is 99% pure, is that true?

hi inlarry

the best way to use the silver magnet is the 2 fix bath method. use a clip of film and time how long it takes
your unused fixer to clear the film. double that time for your total film fix time ( prints need to be fixed for the manufacturer's recommendation )
so that means the clear time for 1 bath, and the same time for bath 2.
when it takes double the original test time to clear the film clip your fixer is ready to de-silver. make a new fresh bath for #2, the old #2 becomes #1 and keep an eye on it ...

they say you can keep re-using the fixer after you de-silver it, but i have never done that so i can't really recommend that ...
you submerge the silver magnet in a non metal* tank/tray whatever you want to de-silver in ( a plastic dollar store shoe box works great )
and when the light changes from dim to bright you are done ... you can keep an eye on the cathode when it plates dark-stuff you are done.
there is still about 50 parts/ million silver in the de-silvered fixer. you can run it through steel wool or aluminum foil or copper flashing or whatever you want
to get the rest of the silver gone, and dispose of the spent fixer according to your local regulations.
i also sell trickle tanks to remove the rest of the silver ( in your fixer ) from your waste stream. it will de-silver your wash water and the fixer already put
through the magnet ( the magnet / electrolytic unit is for high concentrations of silver, the trickle tanks/ion transfer is for low concentrations ) used with
the magnet they last for 1000 or 2000 gallons of fixer/or wash water ...

its best not to dump fixer down the drain, the silver kills the beneficial bacteria in sewer plants and septic systems will corrode your pipes and end up
in your garden or well or ? ..

yup they say 99% pure ... the 1% probably accounts for black stuff you might get on your cathode when you leave it on too long ...

let me know if i can be of any more help !
john

inlarry · Jul 5, 2012

Alright, my question actually stemmed from looking at the website you've got for this stuff, it'd mentioned just sitting it in your fix tray to prolong the life of the fix, which isn't a huge concern for me I just wasn't sure how well that aspect actually worked in the real world.

jnanian said:
hi inlarry

the best way to use the silver magnet is the 2 fix bath method. use a clip of film and time how long it takes
your unused fixer to clear the film. double that time for your total film fix time ( prints need to be fixed for the manufacturer's recommendation )
so that means the clear time for 1 bath, and the same time for bath 2.
when it takes double the original test time to clear the film clip your fixer is ready to de-silver. make a new fresh bath for #2, the old #2 becomes #1 and keep an eye on it ...

they say you can keep re-using the fixer after you de-silver it, but i have never done that so i can't really recommend that ...
you submerge the silver magnet in a non metal* tank/tray whatever you want to de-silver in ( a plastic dollar store shoe box works great )
and when the light changes from dim to bright you are done ... you can keep an eye on the cathode when it plates dark-stuff you are done.
there is still about 50 parts/ million silver in the de-silvered fixer. you can run it through steel wool or aluminum foil or copper flashing or whatever you want
to get the rest of the silver gone, and dispose of the spent fixer according to your local regulations.
i also sell trickle tanks to remove the rest of the silver ( in your fixer ) from your waste stream. it will de-silver your wash water and the fixer already put
through the magnet ( the magnet / electrolytic unit is for high concentrations of silver, the trickle tanks/ion transfer is for low concentrations ) used with
the magnet they last for 1000 or 2000 gallons of fixer/or wash water ...

its best not to dump fixer down the drain, the silver kills the beneficial bacteria in sewer plants and septic systems will corrode your pipes and end up
in your garden or well or ? ..

yup they say 99% pure ... the 1% probably accounts for black stuff you might get on your cathode when you leave it on too long ...

let me know if i can be of any more help !
john

removed account4 · Jul 17, 2012

hi larry

from what i have been told by someone who has used / re-used de-silver fix .. he said that
he would trust it for his first bath, but use un-desilvered fix for his second bath.
i have never done this, but i guess it can be done ...

Prof_Pixel · Jul 17, 2012

Reuse of electrolytically desilvered fixer

Silver ions are reduced at the cathode (the desired reaction); however, something must be oxidized at the anode (depending on conditions this might be thiosulfate complex or sulfite ions). This means desilvered fixer is not the same as fresh fixer.

removed account4 · Jul 20, 2012

thanks prof_pixel !
NOW i know what the deal is ..

- john

Neal · Jul 21, 2012

Hi inlarry,

Having used the Silver Magnet for several years (still filling up the first one) I would suggest a separate container to keep things clean. (I'm pretty sure I posted a photo of my setup somewhere in one of these threads.) I use a plastic shoe box with a snap cover to keep the dust out then I pour the fixer through a coffee filter before re-use. I don't know how the fixer is affected by the electrolysis other than if you keep the fixer in long enough that the remaining silver will not register on the test strips, it clears film very quickly. I have seen no issues at all with fixer I've re-used after treating with the Silver Magnet, but after the third time through I take it to the local household chemical drop off just to make me feel better.

If you get a Silver Magnet, get a pack of test strips as well (I tear them in half as you don't need a full length strip).

Good luck,

Neal Wydra

Jenni · Sep 1, 2012

Neal said:
Hi inlarry,

Having used the Silver Magnet for several years (still filling up the first one) I would suggest a separate container to keep things clean. (I'm pretty sure I posted a photo of my setup somewhere in one of these threads.) I use a plastic shoe box with a snap cover to keep the dust out then I pour the fixer through a coffee filter before re-use. I don't know how the fixer is affected by the electrolysis other than if you keep the fixer in long enough that the remaining silver will not register on the test strips, it clears film very quickly. I have seen no issues at all with fixer I've re-used after treating with the Silver Magnet, but after the third time through I take it to the local household chemical drop off just to make me feel better.

If you get a Silver Magnet, get a pack of test strips as well (I tear them in half as you don't need a full length strip).

Good luck,

Neal Wydra

Where do you buy the Silver Magnet?

mopar_guy · Sep 1, 2012

Jenni,

Try this thread:

(there was a url link here which no longer exists)

Neal · Sep 2, 2012

Hi Jenni,

A fellow on the forum sells them (see the linke from mopar_guy). I purchased mine from Porter's.

Neal Wydra

Jenni · Sep 2, 2012

Thank you!

Silver Recovery

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