title: Recovery of silver from silver(I)-containing solutions in bioelectrochemical reactors.
abstract: A novel approach was tested for metallic silver recovery and power generation by using cathodic reduction in bioelectrochemical systems (BESs). In dual-chamber BESs (130 mL volume) with acetate as electron donor on anode, both Ag(+) ions and Ag(I) thiosulfate complex in catholyte were reduced on cathode. The reduction rate of Ag(+) was more rapid than the Ag(I) complex as expected by energetic analysis. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis indicated that electrodeposits on cathodes from both catholyte were metallic silver with >91% purity. The feasibility of metallic silver recovery with the BESs was confirmed using simulated photographic wastewater and up to 95% of Ag(I) removal was achieved.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory for Urban Habitat Environmental Science and Technology, School of Environment and Energy, Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School, Shenzhen 518055, China. taohc@pkusz.edu.cn
authors.forename: Hu-Chun
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Tao
authors.forename: Zhu-You
authors.initials: ZY
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ding
authors.forename: Nan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Wei-Min
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Wu
mesh_terms: D055664:Electrochemical Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation*; D004566:Electrodes; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D012834:Silver / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D012996:Solutions
chemical_list: D012996:Solutions; D012834:Silver