Sequential and rapid determination of Po-210, Bi-210 and Pb-210 in natural waters

A sequential and rapid separation method for the determination of radon daughter nuclides, Pb-210, Bi-210 and Po-210 has been developed for application to natural waters. Rapid separation is attained by the use of the same hydrochloric acid solution. After isolation of the three radionuclides from the sample by co-precipitation with added Fe(3+), polonium isotopes are first spontaneously deposited onto a silver disc from a 0.5N hydrochloric acid solution. Next, bismuth isotopes are electrodeposited onto a platinum net cathode coupled with a platinum coil anode at 1.2 V. Finally, lead isotopes are electrodeposited onto a platinum net cathode at 1.8 V from the remaining solution by adding hydroxylamine hydrochloride as an anodic depolarizer. This method can be applied to meteorological precipitation samples where these three nuclides are separated within 10 hr after the sampling with chemical yields of more than 80% for Po-210 and Bi-210 and more than 70% for Pb-210. This method is applicable to other environmental water samples.