Electro-Deposited Lead Dioxide Plates: A New Technique for Sulfation Rate Studies

Sulfation rates have long been used to estimate roughly atmospheric SO2 content on a monthly basis. Either lead dioxide coated candles or petri dishes (Huey plates) have so far been used.^1-6 Although in many advanced countries there are now commercially available duly coated petri dishes which are relatively rugged and can stand moderately rough handling during routine operations, small working groups, particularly in developing countries have to be content with “homemade” plates. In tropical climate we find the Huey plates prone to peeling and damage under adverse climatic conditions or routine operations. Besides, the Pb02 slurry deposition technique demands uniformity and submicron size of deposited PbC>2 which is hard to obtain particularly in “homemade” plates.