Electrodeposition of Cobalt at Trace Levels with a Special Reference to Preparation of 60Co Source

A new electrolyte, based on cobalt-ammine-oxalate, has been developed for the electrodeposition (ED) of 60Co and inactive cobalt at trace levels on stainless steel (SS) with a deposition yield of ∼90%. The operating parameters for the ED were evaluated. The electrolyte consists of 1 ppm Co as oxalate salt in 2.4 M aqueous ammonia solution containing 60Co tracer. A partial polarisation curve for ED of Co at trace level showed the validity of Tafel equation in a certain range of potential investigated.