Title: Response of bentonite microbial communities to stresses relevant to geodisposal of radioactive waste

Journal Article · · Chemical Geology
ORCiD logo [1];  [2];  [1];  [1]
  1. Univ. of Manchester, Manchester (United Kingdom)
  2. Univ. of Manchester, Manchester (United Kingdom); Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
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Microbes have been isolated previously from bentonite materials that may be used as barriers for the disposal of radioactive waste. Actively respiring microbes in such barrier materials, within a repository environment, have the potential to adversely affect waste container corrosion rates. Additionally, they could potentially alter the properties of the bentonite barrier itself. This is of significance, since the integrity of the waste container and properties of the bentonite barrier are required to fulfil defined safety functions. Furthermore to help identify the critical factors that affect microbial activity in bentonite materials, this study examines the impact of a range of parameters that could affect microbial metabolism in a geodisposal environment. Several bentonites from different sources (bentonite mined from locations in Spain and the USA, along with commercially-sourced bentonite) were subjected to increased pressure (74 MPa, 30 s), heat (90 °C, 24 h), and irradiation (1000 Gy, 24.17 Gy min–1), before incubation in growth media selective for sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) or iron-reducing bacteria (IRB).

Research Organization:
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE
Grant/Contract Number:
AC05-76RL01830
OSTI ID:
1480131
Report Number(s):
PNNL-SA-139606; PII: S0009254118304996
Journal Information:
Chemical Geology, Journal Name: Chemical Geology Vol. 501; ISSN 0009-2541
Publisher:
ElsevierCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
58 GEOSCIENCES
Bentonite
Fe(III)-reducing bacteria
Geological disposal facility
Sulfate-reducing bacteria