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

Journal Article · Fri Dec 14 23:00:00 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 Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, WA (US), Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory (EMSL)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-76RL01830
• OSTI ID: 922893
• Report Number(s): PNNL-SA-57705; 4297; 4992; KP1301010
• Journal Information: Environmental Science & Technology, 41(24):8349-8354, Journal Name: Environmental Science & Technology, 41(24):8349-8354 Journal Issue: 24 Vol. 41
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

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