How Bacteria Can Be Used to Remediate Uranium in Groundwater

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The biogeochemistry and bioremediation of uranium and other priority radionuclides

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Open access

Highlights

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Biogeochemical interactions may control the mobility of uranium in the surround.

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The mechanisms of U(VI) bioreduction and U–P biomineralisation are reviewed.

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Biostimulation of U(6) reduction in situ at the US DOE research sites is discussed.

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Microbial interactions with Tc, Np, Pu, Am, I, Sr and Cs are documented.

Abstract

Microbial metabolism has the potential to alter the solubility of a broad range of priority radionuclides, including uranium, other actinides and fission products. Of notable interest has been the biostimulation of anaerobic microbial communities to remove redox-sensitive radionuclides such as uranium U(VI) from contaminated groundwaters at nuclear sites. Particularly promising are bioreduction processes, whereby bacteria enzymatically reduce aqueous U(VI) to insoluble U(Iv) coupled to oxidation of an organic electron donor; and uranium phosphate biomineralisation, in which bacterial phosphatase activity cleaves organophosphates, liberating inorganic phosphate that precipitates with aqueous U(VI) as uranyl phosphate minerals. Here we review the mechanisms of uranium bioreduction and phosphate biomineralisation and their suitability to facilitate long-term precipitation of uranium from groundwater, with item focus on in situ trials at the US Section of Free energy field sites. Redox interactions of other priority radionuclides (technetium, neptunium, plutonium, americium, iodine, strontium and caesium) are also reviewed.

Keywords

Biostimulation

Microorganisms

Metal reduction

Electron transport

In situ

Nuclear

Copyright © 2022 The Authors. Published past Elsevier B.5.

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Source: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0009254113004907