Three media silver recovery apparatus

An apparatus for removing silver from fluids having silver dissolved therein, the apparatus comprising:

• a container having first and second ends with an inlet port provided at the first end, and an outlet port provided at the second end, the container enclosing an axial bore extending between the inlet and outlet ports and defining a transverse cross sectional area;
• first, second, and third silver replacement media disposed within the bore substantially filling the transverse cross sectional area along a length of the bore, the media being sequentially arranged along the length of the bore such that the first medium is nearest the inlet port, the third medium is nearest the outlet port, and the second medium being disposed therebetween,
• wherein said first and third silver replacement media comprise steel wool wound into circular reels having outer diameters compressed to be substantially equal to an inner diameter of said bore,
• wherein the second medium comprises finely chopped steel wool disposed between said first and third steel wool reels.

A silver recovery apparatus for removing silver from spent photographic processing chemicals, the apparatus comprising:

• a vessel defining an internal cylindrical chamber having a transverse cross sectional area;
• an inlet port disposed at a first end of the vessel adapted to receive said spent photographic processing chemicals;
• an outlet port disposed at a second end of the vessel positioned to discharge said chemicals from said vessel upon removal of substantially all silver therefrom;
• and
• a silver replacement core disposed within said vessel between said inlet and outlet ports, the core substantially filling the transverse cross sectional area of said internal chamber along a longitudinal length of said vessel, said core comprising sequentially arranged first, second, and third silver replacement media, each media comprising a metal which is electropositive relative to silver, and wherein said first and third replacement media each have a lower surface area-to-volume ratio than that of said second replacement medium.

A silver recovery apparatus for removing silver from a liquid solution comprising:

• a vessel having an inlet port positioned near a base of said vessel, and an outlet port located in the top of said vessel;
• a first filter medium contained within said vessel, spaced above the base and above the inlet port, substantially filling a first horizontal cross section of said vessel;
• a second filter medium contained within said vessel, positioned above said first filter medium, and substantially filling a second horizontal cross section of said vessel;
• and
• a third filter medium contained within said vessel, positioned above said second filter medium, and substantially filling a third horizontal cross section of said vessel;
• each filter medium comprising a metal which is electropositive relative to silver, and wherein said first and third filter media each have a lower surface area-to-volume ratio than that of said second filter medium.