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Title: Microbial transformations of uranium in wastes and implication on its mobility

Conference ·
OSTI ID:943551

Uranium exists in several chemical forms in mining and mill tailings and in nuclear and weapons production wastes. Under appropriate conditions, microorganisms can affect the stability and mobility of U in wastes by altering the chemical speciation, solubility and sorption properties and thus could increase or decrease the concentrations of U in solution and the bioavailability. Dissolution or immobilization of U is brought about by direct enzymatic action or indirect nonenzymatic action of microorganisms. Although the physical, chemical, and geochemical processes affecting dissolution, precipitation, and mobilization of U have been extensively investigated, we have only limited information on the mechanisms of microbial transformations of various chemical forms of U in the presence of electron donors and acceptors.

Research Organization:
Brookhaven National Lab. (BNL), Upton, NY (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
Doe - Office Of Science
DOE Contract Number:
DE-AC02-98CH10886
OSTI ID:
943551
Report Number(s):
BNL-81720-2008-CP; R&D Project: 10874; KP1504010; TRN: US0900397
Resource Relation:
Conference: International Conference on Uranium Mining and Hydrogeology UMH V; TU Bergakademie, Freiberg, Germany; 20080914 through 20080918
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English