What Is Silver Recovery From X-Ray Film?
Silver recovery is the process of collecting silver from material that contains it. Many X-ray films have silver in their image layer, so old film can be a useful source. A professional processor handles recovery; your facility does not need to strip or treat the sheets.
The silver starts in the image layer
Traditional radiographic film has a thin coating that contains the material used to form the image. A plastic base supports that coating.
After processing, silver can remain in the image. The amount varies between film products, so a stack of film does not have one standard silver content based on size or weight alone.
Recovery separates useful material
Professional recovery processes separate silver-bearing material from the film. The equipment and method depend on the type of material being handled.
This work is different from simply sorting envelopes or shredding records. It is also why film should go to a service that understands the material, rather than into a general recycling bin.
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Recovery and refining are different
Recovered material may still contain other substances. Refining is a later step that removes impurities and produces silver suitable for reuse.
An archive does not become finished silver immediately after pickup. There can be several steps between collecting the film and producing reusable metal.
Solid film and processing liquids need separate plans
Used photographic fixer can also contain silver, but a liquid is handled differently from a box of solid film. Do not put processing liquids into archive boxes or send them with film without an agreement.
Tell us what you have before collection. Old equipment, chemicals, and imaging plates also need to be discussed separately from the film files.
Your team does not need to prepare the coating
Leave the sheets intact. There is no need to wash, scrape, burn, or chemically treat X-ray film before a pickup.
California Film Recycling boxes the approved files at your facility, removes them, and separates film from envelopes, records, and CDs. Patient information is securely destroyed, and a Certificate of Destruction is provided.
Film value depends on the collection
Recoverable silver is one reason a recycler can pay for accepted film. The film product, age, and amount affect the pricing discussion.
We pay by the pound for accepted film. Call with a description of your archive for current pricing, and ask how the film weight and payment will be documented.
Talk with California Film Recycling
For professional X-ray film recycling, contact California Film Recycling. We can discuss the material in your archive and handle the pickup and sorting.