The document outlines methods for extracting silver from used x-ray films and other medical waste, highlighting the importance of silver recovery due to resource decline and ecological concerns. It details electrolysis and chemical precipitation as primary recovery techniques, providing a step-by-step guide for conducting the electrolysis process at home. Caution is advised regarding the use of chemicals and equipment during the extraction process.

1. SILVER RECOVERY METHOD
A.HARVIN NELSON
Msc, Medical physics.,PGDCA.,RSO(BARC)

2. How to Effectively Extract Silver from
Used X-Ray Films
• Do you know that you can effectively extract
silver from used X-Ray films? You can also
extract silver from medical and other e waste
like photographic films and pictures, graphic
films, paper and plates etc.
• However in this article we shall only discuss
about extracting silver from the used x ray
films.

3. Importance of silver
• The decline in silver natural resource has increased the cost of
sourcing for pure silver. The ecological problems caused by the
disposal of radiographic waste is a huge motivation for increased
recovery, regeneration and recycling process.
• The negative impact of pure silver on human and the environment
is low but its soluble salt and emission from its recovery process
pose a great risk to the ecosystem.
• Pyro-metallurgical processes of silver recovery requires heat >950°C
which also destroys the polymer substrate. Hydrometallurgical
processes such as electrolysis, metallic replacement, chemical
precipitation and adsorption, are often used and provides high
purity and efficiency.
• A proposed research work for silver recovery based on chemical
precipitation using oxalic acid has been presented.

4. Medical uses of silver
• But before you know how to extract silver from used X-Ray
films, you got to know types of films and materials that
contain silver in it.
• Medical X Ray Films
• MRI Film
• CT Scans
• Mammography Film
• Radiographs
• Graphic Art Film
• Non Destructive Testing Film
• Silver Traps like Silver canisters, Silver recovery Cans
• Fixer Solution, used and unfiltered with silver recover unit

5. Medical uses of silver
• Now let us talk about some
of the methods used to
recover silver from various
products. There are two
methods of extracting silver,
Electrolysis and passive
recovery.

6. Recovery method
• electrolysis is the most common method used for
extracting silver. In this method a stainless steel
container with current pulls the silver towards
itself. The silver is stripped off the container and
the product that is left is sent for further refining.
And the silver you get is 90% to 95% pure.
• Another method is by adding various chemicals
and it causes the silver to form a kind of sludge.
Then it is dried and refined further. However the
sludge is only 30% pure hence it requires further
refining.

7. Recovery method
• Silver taps could also be used to recover silver
from certain products. Silver taps are containers
with cartridge, fixer filters through the container
and the remaining silver is collected in the
cartridge.
• So these were various methods to extract silver.
You must keep one thing in your mind that all
these methods cannot be implemented in home.
• Now to put it simple I would tell you step by step
method to extract or recover silver in an easy
way.

9. Step 1: Building or Buying and
Electrolysis Machine
• Since electrolysis is the easiest and cheapest way
to extract silver we will talk about this process
only. So either you have to build an electrolysis
machine or buy one from the market. The
machine is going to extract silver from the waste
materials.
• If you want to buy then you can find electrolysis
machines in science supply stores or if you want
to make your own then make it using 12 volt
charger and a rubber tub.

10. Step2:
• Now you have to go out and find waste
products to extract silver from. Hospitals are
the best place to find X Ray films. You can also
look for imaging companies for collecting film
rolls, X rays and waste photographic
chemicals. You can put ads on newspaper to
get raw material.

11. Step 3:
• Now start your electrolysis station or the
machine. Now fill the machine with a caustic
solution and turn the machine on. Put hot
water and caustic solution in the rubber tub.
Place the charger plates in the solution and
turn the charger on.

12. Step 4:
• Start preparing waste material that will go
inside the solution for electrolysis. If you are
using films to extract silver then you have to
burn them and put ashes in the tank. For
other waste you can put right into the
electrolysis machine.

13. Step 5:
• Complete your electrolysis. After putting in all the
waste material in the machine now allow the silver to
be leached out by the chemical reactions. These
reactions are created by electrical current and the
caustic solution. As time passes you will see silver
flakes forming on the charger plates.
• This entire process can take up to 1 hour or even more.
It depends upon the kind of chemical you use and the
voltage supply. While the process is going on stand
there and keep an eye on entire process.

14. Step 6:
• Now you can collect silver accumulated around
the charger plates. But first you have to turn off
the charger and remove the plates from the
electrolysis tank. You can save the silver into a jar.
If you want further processing to make it more
pure then you can use certain other chemicals.
• So this was the step by step method of extracting
silver from X Ray films and other waste.
• If you cannot do in your home then don’t. Be
careful when you use chemicals and other things.

15. Thank you