Uranium immobilization by sulfate-reducing biofilms grown on hematite, dolomite, and calcite.

Journal Article · Sat Dec 15 00:00:00 EST 2007 · Environmental Science & Technology, 41(24):8349-8354

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/es071335k· OSTI ID:922893

Marsili, E; Beyenal, Haluk; Di Palma, L; Merli, C; Dohnalkova, Alice; Amonette, James E; Lewandowski, Zbigniew

Biofilms of sulfate-reducing bacteria Desulfovibrio desulfuricans G20 wereused to reduce dissolved U(VI)and subsequently immobilize U(IV) in the presence of uranium-complexing carbonates. The biofilms were grown in three identically operated fixed bed reactors, filled with three types of minerals: one noncarbonate-bearing mineral(hematite) and two carbonate-bearing minerals (calcite and dolomite). The source of carbonates in the reactors filled with calcite and dolomite were the minerals, while in the reactor filled with hematite it was a 10 mM carbonate buffer, pH 7.2, which we added to the growth medium. Our five-month study demonstrated that the sulfate-reducing biofilms grown in all reactors were able to immobilize/reduce uranium efficiently, despite the presence of uranium-complexing carbonates.

• Research Organization: Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States). Environmental Molecular Sciences Lab. (EMSL)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-76RL01830
• OSTI ID: 922893
• Report Number(s): PNNL-SA-57705; 4297; 4992; KP1301010; TRN: US0801138
• Journal Information: Environmental Science & Technology, 41(24):8349-8354, Vol. 41, Issue 24
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

38 RADIATION CHEMISTRY, RADIOCHEMISTRY, AND NUCLEAR CHEMISTRY
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
DESULFOVIBRIO
CALCITE
DOLOMITE
HEMATITE
URANIUM
BIODEGRADATION
SORPTION
REDUCTION
uranium
sulfate-reducing bacteria
hematite
calcite
dolomite
biofilms
Desulfovibrio desulfuricans
immobilization
Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory