Determination of long-lived Nb isotopes in nuclear power plant wastes

94Nb and 93mNb are long-lived radionuclides, produced by thermal and fast neutrons from 93Nb that is a major component of the Zr alloys used in nuclear reactors. A radiochemical method for the determination of these nuclides has been developed. The separation is based on the insolubility of Nb oxides and the retention of the fluoric complexes on anion exchange resin. The Nb sources are detected by γ- and X-ray spectrometries. Activity concentrations determined in radioactive waste samples of a nuclear power plant are presented.