X-Ray Films Scrap – Medical & Industrial X-Ray Film for Silver Recovery & Recycling

Buy scrap X-ray films – medical, dental, and industrial NDT films for silver recovery. High silver halide content. Clean, sorted, and ready for recycling. Contact us for bulk orders. Delivery by air, land & sea worldwide. Standard & express shipment available.

Our Scrap X-Ray Films consist of used, outdated, or discarded radiographic films from medical imaging (hospitals, clinics, veterinary), dental practices, and industrial non-destructive testing (NDT). These films contain silver halide crystals embedded in the gelatin emulsion layer. Through specialized recycling processes, the silver can be recovered and refined to high purity.

X-ray film is one of the most concentrated sources of silver among all scrap materials, typically containing 0.5% – 2% silver by weight (5–20 grams of silver per kilogram of film). This makes it a highly valuable feedstock for silver refiners and recyclers. Unlike some e-waste, X-ray films are relatively clean, uniform, and easy to process.

Types of X-Ray Film Scrap We Supply:

Key Specifications:

What Is Included:

• Fully processed (developed, fixed, washed, dried) films – silver is present as metallic silver in the dark areas

• No patient data – films are stripped of identifiers or are fully obsolete stock

• Films may be cut, trimmed, or whole sheets – mixed acceptable

• No moisture, no mold, no organic decomposition

What Is NOT Included:

• Wet or damp films (mold risk)

• Films with patient stickers, tape, or adhesives (we remove)

• Intensifying screens (remove before sale – they contain rare earths, not included here)

• Lead aprons, cassettes, or other radiology accessories

Silver Recovery Methods for X-Ray Films:

Most professional recyclers use incineration with pollution control (scrubbers for NOx, HCl) or chemical stripping with silver precipitation via electrolysis or chemical reduction.

Expected Silver Yield (per metric ton / 1,000 kg) – Mixed X-Ray Film Scrap:

*At current silver prices (~$0.75–$0.85 per gram), value ranges from $4,000to$15,000+ per metric ton.*

Available Quantities:

• Small sample: 5 kg – 10 kg (for testing recovery rates)

• Boxes: 25 kg – 50 kg (hobbyist or small refiner)

• Gaylord boxes (cardboard large bins): 400 kg – 600 kg

• Baled films: 800 kg – 1,200 kg per bale

• Full 20ft container: 12 – 15 metric tons

• Full 40ft container: 22 – 25 metric tons

Quality & Condition – Important for Refiners:

• Dry only – Wet films promote mold and degrade silver recovery. We do not ship wet films.

• No foreign material – No paper, no plastic sleeves, no envelopes, no cardboard backing.

• No lead or cassettes – We remove all non-film materials.

• Film orientation – Both dark and light areas present; silver is in the dark exposed areas (metallic silver) and also some in fixer residues. However, processed films still have silver in the black metallic form.

• Unprocessed film available upon request – Green or blue sensitive film (higher silver halide content) for specialized recyclers.

Comparison – X-Ray Film vs Other Silver-Bearing Scrap:

Legal & Environmental Compliance:

• Films are fully processed – no hazardous fixer or developer chemicals remain

• No patient health information (HIPAA / GDPR compliant – films are unmarked or de-identified)

• Shipped as non-hazardous solid waste (though incineration requires air permits in some jurisdictions)

• For international shipping, films are not restricted (no liquids, no chemicals)

Why Choose Our X-Ray Film Scrap?

• High silver concentration – better than most photographic papers

• Clean, sorted, and dry – ready for your recovery process

• Consistent supply from hospital decommissioning and radiology archives

• No mixing with low-value films (we reject poor quality)

• Competitive pricing based on silver spot minus processing fee

For more inquiries or to place an order (samples, boxes, gaylords, or containers), please contact us. We deliver by air, land, and sea — internationally. Standard and express shipment options available.