Printable View
Forgive me if this is a dumb question..Ive done a couple hours of reading and can find nothing on the subject..There is suppose to be alot of silver in a plasma screen tv..where might this be located? (i have other crap that Im taking apart so i havent looked at the TV yet)..also and I assume the answer is no but is there anything hazardous in a plasma screen? Thanks ladies and gents for your time!
some refiners use a cyanide leaching process on pulvarized plasma screens to extract the silver. I read an article about some dudes that found an effective way to use persimmon tannin extract to do the same thing. I found it interesting that they could use a safe, biological substitute for such a toxic chemical, and it was just as effective.
click for article
but unless you are set up to refine, you're pretty much beat. also, i think it would take quite a few tons of the screens themselves before anyone would price or buy them from you. i just set it out for town recycling collection.
plasma flat screens can bring in 40-50 dollars ea. I sell all my non working flat panel monitors / tv's to a company by the name of Rescued Parts
Thanks for the information guys..but Id rather do the work on my own to get the experience i got the tv for free so I dont have to worry about turning to large a profit on it..I have two questions..which part of the screen itself contains the silver?..and if i turned that into powder could I extract the silver using muriatic acid (doesnt react with silver)?..ok three questions...could I set up a wash board type system and run the powder over it with water to extract the silver since i assume it would be heavier than the plastic portions..again I realize these are probably dumb questions...but im trying to learn at this point as opposed to turning to large a profit..and if all else fails is the rescued parts company local to you...because shipping costs would suck..thanks for the time gentlemen. :)
try a refining forum for that, as the process can get dangerous working indoors with strong acids. also, if you are only talking about one silver coated plastic screen, or even a dozen of them, i honestly dont believe you will find much value in refining. i think it takes a lot more material to make it worth doing. I could be wrong, and i dont mean to discourage, but i believe you are leaning in the wrong direction. Scrapping is a business of volume, and i would recommend putting more time and energy into acquiring more material. it may serve you better. just a suggestion, but heres a link for a more direct answer to your question:
silver refining from goldrefiningforum.com
at your own risk. accidents do happen, and the link is only for educational purposes
Thanks man ill check it out..I do have the chemicals..and im trying to learn the chemistry behind it..i know enough to be dangerous right at the moment ;)..but i also have a chemical respirator, apron, shoulder length gloves, and protective glasses...not to mention baking soda on hand..i paint cars for a living so I have a little knowledge of safe practices involving harsh chemicals..but again I really appreciate your concern for a complete stranger filthy..it shows your character..if there were more like you the world wouldnt suck quite so bad :)...ill check out the refining forum before making any moves..regards Meh.
another thing you need to take into consideration is what are you going to do with the chemicals once you are done with them? Im glad to see you have the appropriate PPE. Disposing of hazardous waste can be very expensive. Im not trying to stir you in the wrong decision, just making you aware of other costs. You and everyone else, i only wish them to maximize their profits.
thanks bud for the advice and your service in the military..chemistry is something of a side study for me...what I do is dilute the waste with water mixed with sodium bicarbonate (baking soda)...once neutralized its safe enough to dunk your hand in.
that sounds right to me. Not only are you getting into home refining, you are also dabbling in hazardous waste neutalization. It does appear you have sense in cheistry. I have a chemistry degree from San Diego State and have worked for multiple hazardous waste companies.
where are you getting muriatic acid?..what are,you doing sticking your hand in waste water?..what are you doing with it after you add baking soda?..why not drink it?.. To dump that stuff down the drain it need a ph of roughly 7..i dont know much about refining but I do waste treat chemicals everyday at work..dilution is NOT the solution..$hi7 needs to be taken care of properly n responsibly..also u must buy quite a bit of baking soda..get safe n just sell it as posted above
I think you need ventilation too. like a hood over your lab area. be careful not to kill your neighbors
First and foremost thanks scrapcrazy and submarine painter for your service in the military..im more worried about hurting the neighbors as opposed to myself lol..the processes that im using only creates oxygen or hydrogen..occasionally ill produce chlorine in gas form...but not enough to cause anyone a problem..talking about a couple bubbles..scrappy888 as for dunking my hand in i was just illustrating how the chemicals were safe..i dont actually do it..The baking soda is used to neutralize the acids...the water does dilute it but the baking soda actually reacts with the acid to change the ph to something closer to water..thanks for the concerns guys..:)