Abstract: Silver is recovered from the rinse water from a photographic film processing unit by means of a silver recovery device in which the rinse water is passed through at least one bed of ion exchange resin particles maintained in fluidized condition by the water flow. A plurality of such beds are preferably connected in series with rinse water being recirculated until fresh rinse water causes overflow to the next bed and finally to a collection vessel. Fluidization is interrupted periodically to create quiescent periods which aid in removal from the resin particles of accumulated gelatin from the processed film.

Abstract: An electrolytic silver recovery system for recovering silver from photographic fixing solutions, by means of an electrolytic cell (28) having an anode (52) and a cathode (53), and circulation pumps (29a, 29b) for removing solution from the cell and returning it to the cell, which device comprises a hydrocyclone (56) located in the liquid path (55) from the cell to the suction side of the pumps and connected at its outlet directly to the suction side of the pumps. The suction pressure of the circulating pump maintains a low pressure differential of less than about 0.6 bar between the inlet and outlet of the hydrocyclone which establishes the liquid flow through the hydrocyclone.