Anaerobic microbial transformations of radioactive wastes in subsurface environments

Conference · Sun Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1984

OSTI ID:6695513

Francis, A J

Radioactive wastes disposed of in subsurface environments contain a variety of radionuclides and organic compounds. Microorganisms play a major role in the transformation of organic and inorganic constituents of the waste and are partly responsible for the problems encountered at the waste disposal sites. These include microbial degradation of waste forms resulting in trench cover subsidence, migration of radionuclides, and production of radioactive gases such as /sup 14/CO/sub 2/, /sup 14/CH/sub 4/, HT, and CH/sub 3/T. Microbial processes involved in solubilization, mobilization, and immobilization of toxic metals under aerobic and anaerobic conditions are reviewed. Complexing agents and several organic acids produced by microbial action affect mobilization of radionuclides and heavy metals from the wastes. Microorganisms play a significant role in the transformation and cycling of tritium in the environment by (i) oxidation of tritium and tritiated methane under aerobic conditions and (ii) production of tritium and tritiated methane from wastes containing tritiated water and organic compounds under anaerobic conditions. 23 references, 2 figures, 2 tables.

• Research Organization: Brookhaven National Lab., Upton, NY (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: AC02-76CH00016
• OSTI ID: 6695513
• Report Number(s): BNL-34968; CONF-8404175-1; ON: DE84014561
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

052002* -- Nuclear Fuels-- Waste Disposal & Storage
12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE WASTES FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES
510300 -- Environment
Terrestrial-- Radioactive Materials Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ALKANES
ANAEROBIC DIGESTION
BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BETA-MINUS DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BIOCONVERSION
BIODEGRADATION
CARBON 14 COMPOUNDS
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON DIOXIDE
CARBON OXIDES
CHALCOGENIDES
CHELATING AGENTS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
DATA
DECOMPOSITION
DIGESTION
DISPERSIONS
ELEMENTS
ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
HYDROCARBONS
HYDROGEN ISOTOPES
INFORMATION
ISOTOPES
LABELLED COMPOUNDS
LEACHATES
LIGHT NUCLEI
MANAGEMENT
MASS TRANSFER
MATERIALS
METALS
METHANE
MICROORGANISMS
MIXTURES
NUCLEI
NUMERICAL DATA
ODD-EVEN NUCLEI
ORGANIC ACIDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PROCESSING
RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS
RADIOACTIVE WASTES
RADIOISOTOPES
RADIONUCLIDE MIGRATION
SOLUTIONS
TOXIC MATERIALS
TRITIUM
TRITIUM COMPOUNDS
UNDERGROUND DISPOSAL
WASTE DISPOSAL
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTE PROCESSING
WASTES
YEARS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES