Influence of Uranium Concentration and pH on U-Phosphate Biomineralization by Caulobacter OR37

Morrison, Keith D.; Zavarin, Mavrik; Kersting, Annie B.; Begg, James D.; Mason, Harris E.; Balboni, Enrica; Jiao, Yongqin

doi:10.1021/acs.est.0c05437

Influence of Uranium Concentration and pH on U-Phosphate Biomineralization by Caulobacter OR37

Journal Article · Wed Jan 20 04:00:00 EST 2021 · Environmental Science and Technology

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.0c05437· OSTI ID:1787219

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Lawrence Livermore National Lab. (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
Lawrence Livermore National Lab. (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States). Glenn T. Seaborg Inst.
Lawrence Livermore National Lab. (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States); Amphos21, Barcelona (Spain)

Uranium contamination of soils and groundwater in the United States represents a significant health risk and will require multiple remediation approaches. Microbial phosphatase activity coupled to the addition of an organic P source has recently been studied as a remediation strategy that provides an extended release of inorganic P (Pi) into U-contaminated sites, resulting in the precipitation of meta-autunite minerals. Previous laboratory- and field-based biomineralization studies have investigated environments with relatively high U concentrations (>20 μM). However, most contaminated sites have much lower U concentrations (<2 μM). The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) limit for U in drinking water is 0.126 μM. Reaching this regulatory limit becomes challenging as U concentrations approach autunite solubility. Furthermore, we studied the precipitation of U(VI)-phosphate minerals by an environmental isolate of Caulobacter sp. (strain OR37) from an Oak Ridge, Tennessee, U-contaminated site. Abiotic U(VI) solubility experiments reveal that U(VI)-phosphate minerals do not form in the presence of excess Pi (500 μM) when U(VI) concentrations are <1 μM and pH is <5. When OR37 cells are reacted under the same conditions with Pi or glycerol-2-phosphate, U(VI)-phosphate mineral formation was observed, along with the formation of intracellular polyphosphate granules. These results show that bacteria provide supersaturated microenvironments needed for U(VI)-phosphate mineralization while hydrolyzing organic P sources. This provides a pathway to lower U concentrations to below EPA limits for drinking water.

View Accepted Manuscript (DOE)

Research Organization:: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA); USDOE Office of Science (SC), Biological and Environmental Research (BER)

Grant/Contract Number:: AC52-07NA27344

OSTI ID:: 1787219

Report Number(s):: LLNL-JRNL--813614; 1021681

Journal Information:: Environmental Science and Technology, Journal Name: Environmental Science and Technology Journal Issue: 3 Vol. 55; ISSN 0013-936X

Publisher:: American Chemical Society (ACS)Copyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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Influence of Uranium Concentration and pH on U-Phosphate Biomineralization by Caulobacter OR37

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