Exhausted Film Fix - Safe Removal

[heidi_reuter]

I am starting to accumulate jugs of exhausted Sprint Film Fix. What

do you suggest to safely remove them? I was told never to dump it

down the sink. Thanks!

[photojim]

It is safe to discard, but if you want to be as environmentally friendly as possible, put steel wool in it for a few days to attract the metallic silver out of the solution. Remove the silver-laden steel wool, recycle it, and discard the solution down the drain.

[jordan_w.]

This is exactly what I do as well (and with Sprint fixer too). I would only add that you should do the steel-wool procedure in a disposable container (you can ruin a bottle or graduated cylinder with the "silver mirror" that sometimes forms.)

[peter_svensson]

For a faster way of precipitating the silver, pour Kodak Brown Toner or Agfa Viradon in the used fix. The silver will form a black sludge that can be filtered out.

 

But that really isn't necessary. If you pour the fix down the drain, it will precipitate as harmless silver sulfide in no time flat. Only if you have industrial quantities of silver will it matter to your local water treatment plant.

[lars_mo.]

In my town, it's really not recommended to dump used photochemistry down the drain because it's hazardous for the water plant (can't comment on that as I'm not a chemist).

 

Instead, there's a special service that takes used chemistry for free if you have "normal amounts". Maybe you could ask at your local community.

[dennis_oconnor3]

Or, put the liquid in large trays, or other containers, set out in the sun and allow the water to evaporate... Scoop the powder/sludge into gallon milk jugs and take to the paint, etc. disposal drop for your community...

 

denny

[heidi_reuter]

Thank you all for your suggestions!

[reuben_c]

A shame to discard that silver! I have a Rotex electrolytic recovery unit that makes it very easy to extract the metallic silver from the fixer, but in lieu of such, you can place some clean copper sheets in the fixer, and the silver will self-plate onto them.