Estimation of silver content in some photographic wastes

The concentration of silver in some photographic wastes (photographic solution, stabilizer solution and photographic films) has been determined in this study. Plantain ash solution (PAS) of different concentrations was used as solution for stripping the films and as extractant for the photographic solutions. Products obtained were analysed for silver content. The concentration of silver was measured using UV-visible spectrophotometer at a wavelength of 380nm, path length 1cm using silver nitrate for calibration. Results obtained revealed that plantain ash solution extracted silver from the various wastes in all the concentrations of PAS used. However the silver content was observed to be highest in the photographic film and fixer solution and lowest for stabilizer solution in the particular instance. In all the photographic wastes studied, it was observed that although more products were recovered by using higher concentrations of PAS, higher concentrations of silver ions were obtained when lower concentrations of PAS were used (0.1500 -0.8450M ). Therefore lower concentrations of PAS can be used for leaching of photographic wastes of silver.