silver recovery

[CBentre]

Just curious if anyone has any contact info for reputable companies that can process silver plated items in bulk.

 

[anon136]

Just curious if anyone has any contact info for reputable companies that can process silver plated items in bulk.

my understand is that this is basically not done. there is not enough silver on a silver plated object to be worth the effort.

 

[Lou]

Not specifically true--silver plated stainless is a winner by the truck load.

 

[Digitaria]

Perhaps reverse electroplating is something you could research?

 

[goldsilverpro]

Silver on stainless is easily recovered with nitric. Silver on copper is much more difficult, since most of the chemicals used to dissolve silver (nitric, cyanide, etc.) will also dissolve copper. In any case, if copper or a copper alloy is under the silver, it is unlikely that you'll find a refiner that will accept the material. Most common silver plating is only worth from $.01 to $.02 per square inch, although there are many exceptions to this. In most cases, the copper is worth more than the silver.

 

[CBentre]

Not specifically true--silver plated stainless is a winner by the truck load.

Lou are you referring to E.P.N.S?

And thanks for the other comments as it does help to have a better understanding of the materials at hand.

 

[Lou]

EPNS is also a low value recovery material, with the silver recovery being far, far less than the value of the German silver alloy.


Lou

 

[Ian_B]

Electroplated stainless would be marked "Electroplated Stainless" or EP Stainless, Silver Plate Stainless (or some other derivative of that line of thinking)
EPNS- Electro Plated Nickle Silver- Nickle silver contains no silver. it is also commonly known as German Silver and I believe Alpaca. it is generally made up of a mixture of Copper, Nickle, and Zinc

a few local scrap yards that I know of buy it as dirty brass to yellow brass.

 

[CBentre]

Thanks Ian.