An improved laboratory technique for measurement of polonium-210(
210Po) in environmental
samples has been developed in Radiochemistry and Environmental Laboratory (RAS), Malaysian
Nuclear Agency. To further improve this technique, a study with the objectives to determine the
optimum conditions for
210Po deposition and; evaluate the accuracy and precision results for
the determination of 2 1 0 P o in environmental samples was carried-out. Polonium-210 which
is an alpha emitter obtained in acidic solution through total digestion and dissolution of samples
has been efficiently plated onto one side of the silver disc in the spontaneous plating process for
measurement of its alpha activity. The optimum conditions for deposition of 210Po were achieved
using hydrochloric acid (HCl) media at acidity of 0.5 M with the presence of 1.0 gram hydroxyl
ammonium chloride and the plating temperature at 90
oC. The plating was carried out in 80 mL
HCl solution (0.5 M) for 4 hours. The recorded recoveries obtained using 2 0 9 P o tracers in
the CRM IAEA-385 and environmental samples were 85% – 98% whereby the efficiency of the
new technique is a distinct advantage over the existing techniques. Therefore, optimization of
deposition parameters is a prime importance to achieve accuracy and precision results as well as
economy and time saving