ELECTROLYTIC METHOD FOR RECOVERING AND RECYCLING SILVER FROM A NITRIC SOLUTION

摘要

The invention concerns an electrolytic method for selectively recovering and recycling silver from a nitric solution containing same in the form of Ag(I). The method consists in successive steps of electrolytic deposition of silver in the form of metal silver Ag(0) then in re-solubilizing the deposited silver Ag(0), to produce a silver Ag(0) solution as end product wherein said electrolytic deposition is carried out at an imposed intensity and said successive electrolytic deposition of silver and the re-solubilizing of the deposited silver are carried out in the same apparatus. The invention also concerns in particular the selective recovery of Ag(I) by reduction into metal Ag from nitric solutions derived from the treatment of plutonium-bearing wastes in nuclear fuel treating plants and the re-solubilizing of metal Ag into Ag(I) for its recycling upstream of the process.