Extraction of Silver from Used X-ray Films

Abstract

INTRODUCTION

Every country's economy depends on how it acquires its income. The income is used for the development and growth of the country. Some Asian countries like the Philippines are getting their income from different waste materials. They are practicing the "trash to cash" system in order to gain more income. They invest and earn from waste materials and they are making waste materials more meaningful and more productive.

METHODS

The study used the experimental method of research as the basic purpose to discover the influence of one or two factors upon a condition, group or situation, the purpose of which was to discover "what will be.” It describes and analyzes the variables under the controlled condition as a basis for inferring or conducting. Used x-ray films were utilized in conducting the experimental study for the extraction of silver. The primary data gathering instrument was a scorecard, which was used in determining the weight and rate of extraction of silver from used x-ray films. The statistical treatment used in the study is the One-Way ANOVA to compare the weight of silver based on the amount of caustic soda used as well as the rate of extraction.

RESULTS

Based on the data given for the weight of silver extracted from three different concentrations, the mean of grouping information using the Tukey Method and 95% confidence of extracted silver are 6.45, 5.95 and 5.10 using 2 cups of caustic soda, 1 ½ cups of caustic soda and 1 cup of caustic soda respectively. The probability for the F-value is 0.290. Based on the analysis of the data given, the researcher proved that the weight of silver extracted from used x-ray films is not significant. The data shows that there is no significant difference in the amount of caustic used in extracting silver from used x-ray films.

DISCUSSIONS

Based on the experiment, it turned out that the amount of caustic soda and the time elapsed in extraction are not significantly different. The silver can still be extracted no matter how long the soaking process or the amount of caustic soda used. The researcher observed that the greater the amount of caustic soda used in soaking, the faster the rate of extraction will be.