Auto-deposition of 210 Bi and 210 Po on nickel discs and their application in the analysis of natural waters

This study presents a time-efficient method of analysing 210 Pb, 210 Bi, and 210 Po in natural waters. The optimum pH (1.00), temperature (95 °C), and time (4.5 h) for simultaneous auto-deposition of 210 Bi and 210 Po onto Ni discs were determined and thermodynamically and kinetically clarified. Under the optimum conditions, the determination of 210 Pb, 210 Bi, and 210 Po in natural seawater, lake water, and rainwater can be finished within 2 months. The preliminary results in in situ water samples validated our protocol, with favourable recoveries for all three nuclides, and revealed the potential application of the 210 Bi– 210 Pb pair to trace particle cycling in seawater.