Polonium Production

Polonium-210 is synthesized neutron-exposure via native bismuth which contains ²⁰⁸Bi in nuclear reactors with yielding beta-active bismuth-210 as an intermediate product:

²⁰⁸Bi + n = ²¹⁰Bi = ²¹⁰Po + e^-

exposure to accelerated protons gives Polonium-208, which is separated from bismuth by sublimation in vacuum. Long-life isotopes still are not applied practically because of synthesis complexity. The following reactions are used in synthesis:

²⁰⁷Pb + ⁴He = ²⁰⁸Po + 3n
²⁰⁸Bi + ¹H = ²⁰⁸Po + 2n
²⁰⁸Bi + ²D = ²⁰⁸Po + 3n
²⁰⁸Bi + ²D = ²⁰⁸Po + 2n

where ⁴He - alpha-particles, ¹H - accelerated protons and ²D - accelerated deuterons (deuterium nuclei).