Make Silver From Films: X-Ray Films (Or any other Film)

You can see in this video, how I make silver from films. In this specific case I am using x-ray films, but of course this works for all photographic films. At the end we make a nice chunck of silver metal from the films, by melting all the silver we extracted together. So what we get could also be called x-ray silver because it was made from x-rays. Extracting silver from x rays is quite simple as you can see in the video and pretty much anybody can do it.
Of course it doesn't go very smooth...
If you want to see more content like that, make sure to subscribe and leave me a like! Also comments and likes would be very much appreciated!

[@mystery34678]

You are very hardworking sir thank you so much for making this video ❤

[@EliasExperiments]

Thank you so much for the kind feeeback!

[@Sarr922]

Amazinggg! I have many X-ray films that I throw them away, never thought this could be done.

[@EliasExperiments]

Well it can be done, but it isn't really worth your time, unless you do it on a very big scale.

[@mystery34678]

@@Sarr922 exactly 💯

[@MelanieKing]

This is SO amazing!

[@EliasExperiments]

Thank you!

[@steamnerds9560]

It is now possible to extract 99.9% of silver from old films, and old x-ray films. The developer and fixing solutions used to process the images also contain silver.

[@EliasExperiments]

That's great!

[@leonardodilazzaro]

Now melt it in nitric acid make an emulssion with sodium bromine and coat the x-ray again :)

[@EliasExperiments]

That would be quite crazy :D

[@krazmokramer]

I retired from my practice of dentistry in the USA. I am shredding all the radiographs over 10 years old, and was considering trying to recover the silver. Silver is trading today (July 4, 2023) at $0.75 USD per gram. It doesn't seem like it's worth the time and materials so I think I will send it to the landfill like I originally planned. Thanks for this video!

[@EliasExperiments]

Well it might not be worth it money wise, but it might make a cool video. How much x-rays are we talking about? If you would send it to me (I would pay the shipping costs), I might make a video about it and mention you for providing it.

[@kanesmith8271]

That’s your work history there, don’t you want to go back and see at all the teeth you fixed and remember all the people you helped, but I can also see how it’s just too much to keep around and you have the good memories of your time as a dentist

[@krazmokramer]

@@kanesmith8271 Hardly. The past is the past. Besides, in the USA, reviewing patient records for no reason other than to reminisce is highly unethical. They were securely shredded and sent to the landfill in order to respect my former patients' privacy.

[@mgahdshawia901]

مرحبا إلياس ، هل يوجد فضة في نيجاتيف افلام السينما وماهي نسبتها بالكيلو مقارنة بالاشعة الطبية التي عرضتها في هذا المقطع؟ وهل يتم معالجتها بنفس الطريقة هذه؟ وشكرا.

[@EliasExperiments]

I have no idea about the proportion, but they probably all contain silver and the process for extracting would be similar.

[@mgahdshawia901]

@@EliasExperiments Thank you very much

[@johncoker13]

I work for an x-ray film distribution company and when we have expired film ( a lot 1000 lbs) we send it to a lab that specializes in extraction of silver. I don't believe Duplicating film has silver. Nice video thanks 👍

[@EliasExperiments]

Wow that is a bit larger scale then I would be able to do in my home lab. XD Thank you for sharing that!

[@umrumalik8001]

R u sell x-ray film ??

[@QARIB_JEWELRY]

So good video👌

[@EliasExperiments]

Thank you!

[@quique7764]

I'm assuming the cost of the materials is more expensive than the silver you're extracting? I wonder if scaling this up could make this profitable?

[@EliasExperiments]

Well yes scaling it up would make it profitable, but you would have to scale up a lot. It is done industrially. I don't even need to start calculating the material cost, the labor cost ist already far above what I got out in silver. :D

[@goldsilverjunkie]

There’s something just creepy about the x-rays even touching them

[@EliasExperiments]

I know what you mean, but I can assure you it is safe :D

[@abhisheksaxena7453]

Can we extract silver from unexposed or fresh films & what is the process ?? Plz suggest

[@EliasExperiments]

Well just put them in sunglight for a day and then the process should be exactly the same. :D

[@karenkoky5511]

Where you buy them films

[@EliasExperiments]

I didn't buy them, a hospital didn't know what to do with them, so they gave them to me. I guess if you want some too you could try to contact the x-ray departments of your local hospitals.

[@mgahdshawia901]

هل نستطيع بطريقة الحرق وبعد ذلك نعالج بالنيتريك؟

[@EliasExperiments]

يمكن أن يؤدي ذلك إلى خلق الكثير من الأبخرة السيئة من طبقة البوليمر وأي شيء آخر قد يكون موجودًا فيها. انا لن انصح بذلك.

[@idil6177]

Impressive omg

[@EliasExperiments]

Thank you!

[@TheMrbunGee]

Nice! :)

[@TheMrbunGee]

Also - first. :D

[@EliasExperiments]

Congrats, and thank you! :-)

[@theonewhowas7709]

the silver on x-ray film is only on one side of the film.. not on both sides

[@EliasExperiments]

But it is impractical to only treat one side of the film.

[@leerichard5542]

Do U have another cheaper way to do this? May be we can cooperate? I can buy lot of films in China

[@EliasExperiments]

This is only really worth your time on an industrial scale, but I am always open for cooperation suggestions ;-)

[@temesgentenaw3308]

sir,can we change the plated gold metals to pure gold metal having in old personal computer/by what mechanism

[@EliasExperiments]

There are lots of other videos on youtube that explain this much better, then I could possibly do here in the comments.

[@powercage]

To be fair, the X-rays somewhat pass through bones.

[@powercage]

PS: cool video, man.

[@EliasExperiments]

Thank you!

[@joshuajones1319]

Can you do this with unexposed film..? Seems to me it would have more silver... I have a few boxes of unexposed and exposed film..

[@EliasExperiments]

It should certainly be possible.

[@latsam5983]

Awesome

[@EliasExperiments]

thanks!

[@temesgentenaw3308]

hey sir am working by photo chemical waste but wanna work more in quantity meant that wanna get other chemical rather cu.What do u think that I will try first the photo chemical waste precipitated by nas then add cu...is it really good way

[@EliasExperiments]

Well if you add Cu you can get silver metal from dissolved silver ions if there are any. I am not sure if that is the cheapest option however.

[@umarfarookmomin938]

It is our family business since 1970...

[@EliasExperiments]

Nice, that sounds very interesting!

[@dennyrulos7370]

Nowadays the film is worth more than it's weight in silver

[@EliasExperiments]

Haha well and this was definetly not worth my time! XD

[@Reddirtrelichunters]

That extra weights the electrode😅

[@EliasExperiments]

Lol

[@dmitriivinogradov290]

And filter-paper in fire!!)))

[@EliasExperiments]

I already threw it away, but it was mostly clean already. Next time I will try to think about it. :-)

[@ugarit5404]

English captions please?

[@EliasExperiments]

If I have time, the next to month are going to be really busy for me.

[@GoodBoy-gl2vd]

Which chemical and when to use plz say

[@EliasExperiments]

I said it and it was in the description. 50 % H2O2 and 50 % KI solution in water.

[@temesgentenaw3308]

can i extract au from aqua regia?

[@EliasExperiments]

Yes you can dilute it and add SO2 gas and the gold metal should precipitate as a metallic dust.

[@oliviacally7654]

this is so cool but where did you get a hold of so many xrays?

[@EliasExperiments]

Thank you! It was waste from a hospital.

[@oliviacally7654]

@@EliasExperiments oh wow! Did you just walk in and ask if they had some? I’m thinking of exploring this for a university project

[@EliasExperiments]

My mom overheard some employees there talking what they should do with them. And then she asked. They will probably be glad if you take some from them. However I still have sooo many left. So if you want I could also send you some.

[@oliviacally7654]

@@EliasExperiments that’s so lucky your mum overheard that. I’d really appreciate it soo much if you could send me some as I’m struggling to find any! would you mind if I d’med you on Instagram or something?

[@EliasExperiments]

Sure DM me on IG. Link is on my channel.

[@temesgentenaw3308]

Peace to u!.....what chemicals needs me to precipitate first the photo chemical waste having printer in photographer house in addition sodium sulfide?.Am trying now to precipitate but it has lots of swing and black solution...it needs much times...If u know tell me the easiest way to precipitate it in chemical precipitation form....in 🇪🇹 lots of resources are there(unmanaged)....The finishing process is easy but the start way is vice versa same as others..above all If u know tell me the perfect way to cut the lengthy time of mine...If u don't never give up!...but to shorten the time tell the way.Science is understanding!

[@EliasExperiments]

If I understand you correctly and you have a problem with filtering your silver metal after precipitation, I guess tyour best bet is using a centrifuge.

[@temesgentenaw3308]

@@EliasExperiments if u know the step of start way tell me....what kinda centrifuge

[@EliasExperiments]

A laboratory centrifuge. The size depends on how much volume of liquid you have. It might be cheaper to boil it down first and then using a smaller centrifuge. Or you don't even bother with the centrifuge and just boil it down and melt the slver. That's probably the most straighforward way.

[@temesgentenaw3308]

@@EliasExperiments10Q.....before that I will do the precipitated silver in nitric acid then add nacl ...the first step is kept meant that nas is there.

[@awesomehygienecliningprodu5819]

Hello 1kg xra how much gram recover silver

[@EliasExperiments]

About 8 g if I remember correctly. It is really not worth your time on such a small scale. :D

[@awesomehygienecliningprodu5819]

@@EliasExperiments thenxxx for reply

[@kayopaiva5564]

Is there some kind of toxic waste to be worried when this process is made?

[@EliasExperiments]

There is nothing that is classified as toxic in this process, but NaOH (Sodium Hydroxide) is corrosive, so be careful with that. (Safety goggles and gloves help)

[@kayopaiva5564]

@@EliasExperiments thank you for the answere!!!

[@6alecapristrudel]

2:33 You don't need anyone to tell you how reckless that was, right? Given that addition produces heat, why would you add it to water that was already boiling hot...

[@EliasExperiments]

I was trying to be funny XD

[@temesgentenaw3308]

How to extract silver from developer tell me the step

[@umanjulau7659]

Don't follow this youtubers all fake u will waste money by doing this.

[@EliasExperiments]

What exactly did I fake in your opinion? I can only reasure that everything is exactly as I showed in the video.