Silver recovery device

US5133846A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Agfa-Gevaert NV · BE

Inventors

• Marc De Niel · Brussels, BE
• Herman M. Engels · Wuustwezel, BE
• Marc Scheerders · Mortsel, BE
• Dirk De Ruijter · Deurne, BE
• Bartolomeus J. Verlinden · Genk, BE
• Benedictus Jansen · Geel, BE

Key dates

• Filing date: Nov 14, 1990
• Grant date: Jul 28, 1992
• Expiry date: Nov 14, 2010

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y02P10/20
• WIPO field: Materials, metallurgy
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

Silver is recovered from the rinse water from a photographic film processing unit by means of a silver recovery device in which the rinse water is passed through at least one bed of ion exchange resin particles maintained in fluidized condition by the water flow. A plurality of such beds are preferably connected in series with rinse water being recirculated until fresh rinse water causes overflow to the next bed and finally to a collection vessel. Fluidization is interrupted periodically to create quiescent periods which aid in removal from the resin particles of accumulated gelatin from the processed film.