[ RadSafe ] Po-210

[Brennan, Mike (DOH)]

Neutron activation of Bi-209, which becomes Bi-210, which beta decays (5
day half life) into Po-210, which is then chemically separated.  

Bi-209 is kind of interesting, in that it was at one time believed to be
the highest atomic mass isotope that was stable.  It turns out that it
is actually unstable, but with a half life of E19 years, one generally
doesn't need to factor decay into your plans.

-----Original Message-----
From: radsafe-bounces at health.phys.iit.edu
[mailto:radsafe-bounces at health.phys.iit.edu] On Behalf Of Johansen,
Kjell
Sent: Monday, September 12, 2011 10:19 AM
To: radsafe at health.phys.iit.edu
Subject: Re: [ RadSafe ] Po-210

How does one produce Po-210 in a reactor?  I used to measure Po-210 in
lake sediments as a proxy for its parent Pb-210 to determine
sedimentation rates.  The sedimentation rate was based on the fact that
it is a decay product of airborne Rn-220->
Po-218->Bi-214->Pb-210->Po-210 and that its parent Pb-210 is not in
equilibrium with the Ra-226 in the sediments.

Kjell Johansen
NextERA Energy Point Beach
kjell.johansen at NextERAEnergy.com

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