Ne. Whitehead et Rg. Ditchburn, A NEW METHOD FOR DETERMINATION OF RN-222 AND RN-220 IN GEOTHERMAL STEAM, Journal of radioanalytical and nuclear chemistry, 207(2), 1996, pp. 313-324
The radionuclides Rn-222 and Rn-220 are measured by incorporating thei
r daughters Pb-214 and Pb-212 in a very thin layer of PbS and accumula
ting the alpha spectrum of their daughter products Po-214 and Po-212.
The median yield was measured as 88% using a known amount of Pb-210 tr
acer. A single fumarole and all 23 geothermal wells tested were found
to contain Rn-220. As isotopes of Th, Bi, Po and Ra, are also absorbed
in the PbS layer, the method can be used for determinations of these
in tap-water.