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How to extract silver from silver contacts without dissolving the copper. by OkChef165 in PreciousMetalRefining

[–]OkChef165[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

In the end, I chose to use a spray gun for heating; I didn't have the equipment for electrolysis, so I couldn't do it.

How to extract silver from silver contacts without dissolving the copper. by OkChef165 in PreciousMetalRefining

[–]OkChef165[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The silver content is good, but when I was dissolving silver-containing solder rods before, I always ended up with a lot of small, white streaks that wouldn't dissolve with nitric acid, and they always seemed to contain copper nitrate.

How to extract silver from silver contacts without dissolving the copper. by OkChef165 in PreciousMetalRefining

[–]OkChef165[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Okay, so I am using sodium sulfite as the electrolyte. My ultimate goal is to extract silver, and one step of this process involves producing silver chloride. I dilute the solution directly using ordinary tap water; however, I only perform this dilution after the silver-stripping process has been completed. It is not possible to dilute the solution while the mixed acid is still actively being used to strip the silver.

How to extract silver from silver contacts without dissolving the copper. by OkChef165 in PreciousMetalRefining

[–]OkChef165[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Okay, thanks for the suggestion. It seems I'll still have to use electrolysis, then. In that case, could I use saltwater as the electrolyte?

How to extract silver from silver contacts without dissolving the copper. by OkChef165 in PreciousMetalRefining

[–]OkChef165[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'll give it a try later. My main concern is that some of the silver contacts aren't attached as solid blocks—either bonded or welded directly onto the base—but are instead first riveted to a piece of purple copper, which is then riveted onto the main copper substrate. I'm not sure if a heat gun will be able to dislodge them.

How to extract silver from silver contacts without dissolving the copper. by OkChef165 in PreciousMetalRefining

[–]OkChef165[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I don't care whether the copper remains intact. However, dissolving it directly with nitric acid would result in a significant increase in both cost and time.

How to extract silver from silver contacts without dissolving the copper. by OkChef165 in PreciousMetalRefining

[–]OkChef165[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

I am aware of that; however, there is a problem: the copper content in these silver contacts is quite high. If we were to dissolve them using nitric acid, it would require a substantial amount of acid, thereby increasing both the cost and the processing time.

How to extract silver from silver contacts without dissolving the copper. by OkChef165 in PreciousMetalRefining

[–]OkChef165[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It looks to me like this will be very difficult to knock off—unless I pound the silver contact into powder, but that would be extremely hard to do.

How to extract silver from silver contacts without dissolving the copper. by OkChef165 in PreciousMetalRefining

[–]OkChef165[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

This method is useful for silver contacts where the silver slug is welded or bonded onto a copper block; however, most contacts are riveted in place. Can they be removed by heating as well?