Radiochemical determination of210Po and210Pb in water

A method for²¹⁰Po and²¹⁰Pb determination in water samples is described. The nuclides are concentrated, in presence of added²⁰⁸Po and lead carrier, by evaporation. Then the polonium is plated electroless from the acidic solution on a copper planchet and measured by alpha spectrometry.²¹⁰Pb separation from the other isotopes is based on the solutility of PbSO₄ in citrate.²¹⁰Pb content is determined by measuring the activity of its daughter²¹⁰Bi. The critical steps in the isolation of lead have been examined and discussed.