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Q&As since 1989


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Recovery of silver from jewelry making

Sir/Mam, my father is in jewelry business. I have started my own silver refining plant before few months. I have a staff of 4 people. I use an orthodox method to refine silver from the scrap of jewelry. the method I use is like first melt the metal, put that in to acid, filter that, wash that, separate copper from that and so on. This process is costing me 65 Rs.(and the process takes very long time) per kg.of pure silver. which is very high. Now I want to bring down this cost at its minimum level. I'm willing to expand my capacity and leave all my competitors behind. I want to buy some new technology and equipment.

I get some copper as raw material in which there is 4% silver mixed. But I don't know how should I refine that. please tell me what should I do? How much capital would I need for this? where can I get information about equipments in Mumbai?

One more thing I had to ask is that, in that refining process I get copper in the form of powder. I sold that to a factory at a very cheap rate. Please tell to whom should I sell that to get maximum price. please reply as soon as possible.

Thank You So Much

Pradeep Somani
Shri B.D. jewellers - Bhilwara, Rajasthan, India
2005

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Well I really don't know how you are managing the business with process charges as high as 65Rs per kg. I think it shall come down to around 10-15 Rs silver recovery charge with EMEW. You shall try your hands with this process.


Regards,

Ravi Jain
- Goa, India
2005