Abstract: A thermoelectric Peltier heat transfer device is used to treat a fluid, such as a photographic processing solution to reduce or prevent biogrowth. The device include both hot and cold sides that are in direct fluid flow communication so that the same fluid is treated on both sides of the device. The treated fluid is subjected to flash pasteurization on the hot side of the device, and immediately and rapidly cooled on the cold side without loss of volume. Thus, the same fluid is treated on both sides of the heat transfer device in a closed system before being returned to desired chemical, photographic or other processes.

Abstract: There is provided a process for converting a silver-mercapto-s-triazine precipitate to a solid containing silver and a solution containing mercapto-s-triazine by contacting the silver-mercapto-s-triazine precipitate with one or more reducing agents. In preferred embodiments, at least one of the reducing agents has a redox potential more negative than about -0.9 V vs. Normal Hydrogen Electrode, NHE.

Abstract: A process for inhibiting the formation of an unwanted precipitate comprising [H.sub.2-n TMT]Na.sub.n [HNR.sub.3 ] during the precipitation of silver mercapto-s-triazine (AgTMT) from a silver containing photoprocessing solution, comprising the steps of:(a) providing a base solution;(b) providing a reagent solution containing mercapto-s-triazine (TMT), or a water soluble salt thereof;(c) mixing the TMT reagent solution with the photoprocessing solution; and(d) adding sufficent base to increase the pH of the mixture of the TMT reagent and photoprocessing solutions above the pH of the mixture before addition of base, and the base is mixed:(i) directly to the photoprocessing solution before mixing TMT reagent with the photoprocessing solution; or(ii) with the photoprocessing solution concurrently with TMT reagent; or(iii) immediately after the point TMT reagent begins mixing with the photoprocessing solution.

Abstract: A method of removing undesired precipitate from the surfaces of an apparatus; wherein the apparatus is used in a process for removing silver from silver bearing photoprocessing solutions and the process includes the step of mixing a mercapto-s-triazine, or a water soluble salt thereof, with a silver bearing photoprocessing solution, thereby causing formation of the undesired precipitate and a precipitate of silver mercapto-s-triazine, said method comprising flushing inner surfaces of the apparatus with an aqueous solution having a pH of at least 9.8 thereby solubilizing the undesired precipitate.

Abstract: A process for removing silver from a silver containing photoprocessing solution, including the steps of:a) mixing a mercapto-s-triazine, or a water soluble salt thereof, with the solution thereby causing formation of a mixture of i) precipitates and fines of silver mercapto-s-triazine and ii) the solution;b) mixing a copolymer flocculant with the mixture thereby causing flocculation and agglomeration of the silver TMT fines; wherein the copolymer i) consist of monomers selected from the group consisting of acryloyloxyethyl trimethylamine chloride and acrylamide and ii) has a reduced viscosity of 21 to 30 dL/g.