Improving ²¹⁰Po source preparation for alpha spectrometry: Neodymium hydroxide micro-precipitation

Area of Science:

• Radiochemistry
• Analytical Chemistry
• Environmental Science

Background:

• Alpha spectrometry is crucial for actinide analysis.
• Traditional methods for polonium-210 (²¹⁰Po) source preparation can be time-consuming and challenging for complex matrices.
• Neodymium hydroxide (Nd(OH)₃) micro-precipitation is an established technique for actinide alpha source preparation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To adapt the neodymium hydroxide micro-precipitation method for the alpha source preparation of polonium-210 (²¹⁰Po).
• To evaluate the method's suitability for complex environmental samples and its effectiveness in chemical separation.
• To assess the achieved alpha peak resolution and preparation time compared to existing methods.

Main Methods:

• Adapted micro-precipitation using neodymium hydroxide (Nd(OH)₃) for ²¹⁰Po alpha source preparation.
• Incorporated enhanced chemical separation steps to remove interfering elements like copper (Cu), lead (Pb), and iron (Fe).
• Utilized alternative neutralising agents to exploit differences in complexation chemistry for improved separation.

Main Results:

• Routine achievement of alpha peak resolution less than 50 keV (full-width-half-maximum).
• Reduced alpha source preparation times compared to many auto-deposition methods.
• Demonstrated robustness for complex sample types (biota, marine sediment, seawater, groundwater) with uniform Po distribution and comparable chemical recovery.

Conclusions:

• The adapted Nd(OH)₃ micro-precipitation method is highly suitable for ²¹⁰Po alpha source preparation, especially for complex matrices.
• The method offers enhanced chemical separation, particularly for samples with high Cu or for simultaneous ²¹⁰Pb determination.
• The technique provides a robust, sensitive, and efficient approach for ²¹⁰Po analysis in diverse environmental samples.