Catalysts are substances that change the rate of a chemical reaction. Catalysts containing silver compounds are common in the chemical industry and scientific research. Silver catalysts can be 8 to 15 percent silver, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. Silver used in catalyst production in the United States in 2000 was estimated at 510 tons, assuming a 12 percent silver content of the catalyst.
Silver is found in photographic materials such as film, processing solutions and papers. Silver can be recovered from used processing solutions as well as from unprocessed black-and-white film and paper, such as graphic arts film and medical X-ray film. Recovery methods used in the photographic industry include electrolysis and simple precipitation. However, color film and paper provide only a small amount of scrap silver when compared with black-and-white.
Old computers and other electronic scrap can have from 0.02 to 0.5 percent silver content. Silver is found in anodes, diodes, integrated circuits and grid wires as well as in printed circuit boards. In 2000, the silver recycled from this source amounted to 90 tons, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. Some types of batteries also contain silver compounds.
The silverware industry produces liquid and solid scrap. Most of the liquid waste is produced during silver plating; solid wastes generally result from the production of sterling ware. According to U.S. Geological Survey, scrap from the jewelry industry has high value. Clippings, fillings, chips and other production rejects can be recycled into new objects. Old scrap, such as broken and unwanted jewelry, can also be used to produce new silverware.