Abstract: An ion-exchange resin holder (18) to recover silver from photographic rinsing water with a perforate inlet (37) and outlet (29) resin restrainer between which a mass (38) of ion-exchange resin is restrained in the holder and a liquid restrainer (32) near the inlet for deflecting part of the incoming water towards the bottom end, and for allowing another part of said incoming water to pass undeflectedly towards the outlet opening.

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.