Silver recovery from radiographic film processing effluents by hydrogen peroxide: Modeling and optimization using response surface methodology

The recovery of silver from X-ray film processing effluents by precipitation using hydrogen peroxide as the precipitating agent was studied. Response surface methodology (RSM) and central composite design (CCD) were applied to achieve optimum conditions. Linear, square and interactions effects between parameters to study of a second order polynomial equation were obtained. Optimum condition included the volume of H2O2 0.8 ml/min, pH=5.5, ethylene glycol 9 ml in the experimental condition. In these conditions silver recovery percentage was predicted as 92.8%. The experiment was conducted in triplicate under optimized conditions. Silver recovery percentage and average of precipitate were obtained as 91.5% and 423.19mg, respectively, which were close to the predicted amount achieved by the model.