- Zirconium-93
93Zr is a
radioisotope ofzirconium with ahalf life of 1.53 million years, decaying with a low-energybeta particle toNiobium -93m, which decays with a halflife of 14 years and a low-energygamma ray to ordinary 93Nb. It is one of only 7 long-livedfission product s. The low specific activity and low energy of its radiations limit the radioactive hazards of this isotope.Nuclear fission produces it at a fission yield of 6.2956%, on a par with the other most abundant fission products. Nuclear reactors usually contain large amounts of zirconium asfuel rod cladding (seeZircaloy ), and neutron irradiation of 92Zr also produces some 93Zr, though this is limited by 92Zr's lowneutron capture cross section of 0.22barns .93Zr also has a low
neutron capture cross section of 2.70barns . Most fission zirconium consists of other isotopes; the other isotope with a significant neutron absorption cross section is 91Zr with a cross section of 1.24 barns. 93Zr is a less attractive candidate for disposal bynuclear transmutation than areTc-99 and I-129. Mobility in soil is relatively low, so that geological disposal may be an adequate solution.ee also
*
Isotopes of zirconium
* [http://www.ead.anl.gov/pub/doc/zirconium.pdf ANL fact sheet]
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