Deposition and Characterization of Silver Oxide from Silver Solution Recovered from Industrial Wastes

Aims: To recover silver from industrial waste and use its solution in silver oxide deposition.

Study Design: Extraction, electrodeopsition on different substrates, XRD and topographical characterizations.

Place and Duration of Study: Sample: x-ray films were collected from Anambra State University Teaching Hospital, Awka, Nigeria. Electrodeposition at Physics and Industrial Physics Department, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka. XRD characterization was done at Energy centre, Obafemi- Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria in September.

Methodology: Silver was recovered from x-ray films by dissolving the silver compounds with concentrated nitric acid. The solution thus formed was used as electrolyte in the electrodeposition of silveroxide. Two metallic substrates (zinc and lead) were used for the electrodeposition both serving as cathode while a copper electrode served as the anode. Structural and topographical characterizations were done using XRD and micrograph techniques.

Results: From the result, it was observed zinc substrate gave a good deposition of silver oxide without any impurities whereas the lead substrate gave deposition of silver oxides with lots of impurities

Conclusion: Silver was successfully recovered from wastes and the solution used in silver-oxide deposition.