[Alt-photo] Re: Was Sulfamic now VDB and pt/pd gold leaf

[Jack Fulton]

This is the once-familiar method of recycling the silver from fixer. Kodak provided a 5 gallon bucket where the
used fixer was poured into the container filled with steel wool. The silver replaced the iron of the wool and an
oxide sludge remained. It was then sent to Kodak for recycling and payment returned. I then turned to an X-Rite
electrolytic cathode/anode unit  where we'd flake off the silver and send it for return as 99% silver. The school
was not then cognizant of the need for recycling waste and I paid for the unit in order to institute eco principles.
After paying for the unit with cash from recovered silver I retain some dozen pounds. The school ultimately hired 
a company to pick up the exhausted chemistry, which is how it is all handled now.
Cheers
Jack




On May 10, 2013, at 7:33 AM, Loris Medici <mail at loris.medici.name> wrote:

> Hi Andy, I'm not familiar with the procedure you describe, but my gut
> feeling is that you'll get elementary silver that way.
> 
> Regards,
> Loris.
> 
> 
> 2013/5/10 andy schmitt <aschmitt at aandy.org>
>> 
>> Hi Loris
>> Isn't silver oxide the result of "detox'ing"  used fixer by dropping steel
>> wool in it?
>> 
>> Fascinating conversation... I'm going to have to try Agyrotypes
>> Thank You
>> 
>> Regards
>> 
>> Andy Schmitt
>> 
>> Head of The New & Improved Photography Dept,
>> Peters Valley School of Craft
>> http://www.petersvalley.org/html/Photography.cfm
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: alt-photo-process-list-bounces at lists.altphotolist.org
>> [mailto:alt-photo-process-list-bounces at lists.altphotolist.org] On Behalf
> Of
>> Loris Medici
>> Sent: Friday, May 10, 2013 3:01 AM
>> To: The alternative photographic processes mailing list
>> Subject: [Alt-photo] Re: Was Sulfamic now VDB and pt/pd gold leaf
>> 
>> Hi Don, I agree about kits (if you don't want to mess with chemistry),
> OTOH,
>> if one's going to get their hands dirty, compounding silver oxide from
>> silver nitrate + sodium hydroxide isn't that hard or fail-prone (just
> weight
>> the chemicals, prepare the solutions, mix them and then stir + decant 3-4
>> times...), and the cost difference would be significant in most parts of
> the
>> world.
>> 
>> Regards,
>> Loris.
>> 
>> 
>> 2013/5/10 Don <donsbryant at gmail.com>
>>> 
>>> Thanks Sandy.
>>> 
>>> I would encourage anyone interested in the Agyrotype process to
>>> purchase
>> the
>>> silver oxide or purchase a kit from the usual sources.
>>> 
>>> If one decides that they indeed like the process then the effort
>>> required making silver oxide from silver nitrate will be worth while.
>>> For the neophyte it may prove to be off putting and create a built in
>>> receipt for failure.
>>> 
>>> Don
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