Recovery of precious metals from fixer solution (R4)

Fixer solutions used in traditional photography, in the production of analogue X-ray images and in certain film and restoration processes can take up silver. As a result, the spent liquid is not only waste to be treated but also a material containing a valuable precious metal. The aim of the technology is to recover this silver content from the solution. During treatment, the silver-bearing fraction is separated from the other components of the liquid. After further processing, the recovered metal-bearing material can be used again as a raw material. In this way a valuable metal is not lost in the waste but can return to the economic cycle. The process serves both the proper treatment of the waste and the recycling of a valuable raw material.