Abstract: The present invention discloses a method for easy and quick in silico generation of a very large asparagine-linked glycan structure (N-glycan) database and the use of the database and mass spectrometric data for the determination of N-glycan structures. A two dimensional array of single characters is used to represent all distinct outer branch structures of N-glycan structures. We use a computer program and the array to generate a very large number of unique N-glycan structures. For the determination of N-glycan structures based on mass spectrometric data, a search engine is used to search the N-glycan structure database to find N-glycan structure candidates and correlate a predicted mass spectrum of each of the N-glycan structure candidates with an experimental mass spectrum. With the present invention, intact N-glycan structures and their fragments can be displayed graphically.

Abstract: Silver recovery from a silver-bearing spent photographic solution is achieved by reducing the silver ions to silver metal with an organic reducing agent, especially a photographic developer reagent; in particular a spent photographic developer solution provides a convenient source of reducing agent for the silver recovery; in this case the developer reagents which typically are phenol-type compounds are oxidized leading to a less toxic discharge effluent having a lower COD and BOD.

Abstract: Spent color photography liquids comprising alkaline developer liquid and fixer liquid loaded with iron ions generate a dischargeable effluent, in which clogging of drains and conduits with precipitated iron oxides is minimized or avoided; the liquids are fed through separate feed ports into a vessel to form a liquid bath, the feed ports being isolated from each other and from the liquid bath; liquid effluent is pumped from the bath to form an effluent flow; preferably the pumping employs a suction generated by flow of a carrier liquid such as water through a venturi passage, whereby the liquid effluent is entrained in the flowing water and discharged under pressure, the precipitated iron oxides being retained in a dispersed non-clogging state.

Abstract: Value metal, for example, silver in a spent silver bearing photographic solution is efficiently recovered in an exchange mass comprising a particulate inert substrate, for example, cellulosic fibers, synthetic fibers or sponge particles, co-mingled and interlocking with elongate particles of replacement metal, for example, strands of steel wool; the substrate defines a non-channeling random flow paths for liquid flow, and inhibits carriage of recovered value metal by the flowing liquid.