Developments / Devices and apparatus

AUTONOMOUS ELECTROCHEMICAL COMPLEX AK-1

The AK-1 complex is a mobile movable set-up intended for extracting silver from all types of worked out fixing and fixing bleaching solutions. It is only necessary to choose the type of solution on the screen of the program-controlled power supply unit (for example, "Fixing solution", to immerse the module into the solution to be treated, then the AK-1 complex operates autonomously according to the given program until the necessary minimal residual silver concentration is achieved. After the operation finishes, the visual and sound signals are switched off automatically.

The basic set of AK-1 includes:

• Immersible electrochemical module (1) – 1 sp.
• Program-controlled power supply and control unit (2) – 1 sp.
• Reference electrode (3) – 1 sp.
• Porous cathodes (4) – 5 sp.
• Operation manual – 1 sp.

AK-1 complex has small overall dimensions and weight; it provides:

• High rate of solution treatment (up to 200 l/day)
• Low residual silver content (10-20 mg/l)
• High capacity of the porous cathode with respect to silver (5-10 kg)

Metal silver is deposited on the filaments of the porous cathode gradually decreasing the pores between the filaments till complete filling. The silver-filled cathode is dried or annealed in the air at 600-800 °C to burnt out the fibers of the porous cathode. The AK-1 complex does not admit the cathode decomposition of thiosulfate and creates the conditions for repeated use of the fixing solutions in the photographic process. This allows a substantial decrease in reagents consumption and in the amount of pollutants entering the environment.