Most industrial workflows begin with impure silver sources—ore concentrates, recycled electronics, or scrap alloys—containing copper, lead, zinc, and trace precious metals. The goal is selective removal of these impurities while preserving silver yield. Step 1: Smelting and Separation The feedstock is melted in a furnace above ~960°C (silver’s melting point). Fluxes such as borax and silica are added to bind oxidized impurities into slag. Denser molten silver separates beneath this layer due to density differences. Step 2: Electrorefining (high-purity route) For fine silver production, the molten metal is cast into anodes and placed in an electrolytic cell containing silver nitrate (AgNO₃) solution. • Anode reaction: Ag → Ag⁺ + e⁻ • Cathode reaction: Ag⁺ + e⁻ → Ag (pure deposition) Impurities either remain in solution or fall as anode sludge (often containing gold and platinum group metals). This step can achieve 99.99% purity. Step 3: Chemical Refining (alternative route) In sma...