Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles from Spent X-Ray Photographic Solution via Chemical Rreduction

Silver metal was recovered primarily from spent X-ray photographic solution using a horizontal tube furnace. The X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) spectroscopy analysis approved almost 95 percent purity of the recovered silver metal. In the next step, the synthesis of silver nanoparticles from the recovered silver metal proceeded by using chemical reduction method. The proposed method uses ethanol as reducing agent and VinylTriMethoxySilane (VTMS) as stabilizer. Nitrogen gas may be used to provide dry and inert atmosphere. Upon optimized condition spherical nano-sized silver particles with approximately 68 nm diameter are formed. XRD and EDX spectroscopy studies confirmed the formation of silver nanoparticles. The morphology of the silver nanoparticles was studied by using scanning electron microscope.