Sequential determination of 210Po and uranium radioisotopes in drinking water by alpha-particle spectrometry

Procedures for the sequential determination of low level 210Po and uranium radioisotopes in drinking water by alpha-particle spectrometry are presented. After addition of 208Po and 232U tracers, the radionuclides were preconcentrated from water samples by co-precipitation on Fe(OH)3 or MnO2 at pH 9 using ammonia solution. The 210Po source was prepared by spontaneous deposition onto a copper disc either before or after uranium separation. The uranium source for alpha-particle counting was prepared by micro co-precipitation with CeF3. The procedures were tested on mineral water and the results obtained are compared.