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Title: Microbial interactions with phosphorus containing glasses representative of vitrified radioactive waste

Journal Article · · Journal of Hazardous Materials
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  1. University of Sheffield (United Kingdom). NucleUS Immobilisation Science Laboratory
  2. University of Sheffield (United Kingdom). NucleUS Immobilisation Science Laboratory; University of Bristol (United Kingdom)
  3. Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
  4. USDOE Office of River Protection (ORP), Richland, WA (United States)
  5. University of Manchester (United Kingdom)

The presence of phosphorous in borosilicate glass (at 0.1 – 1.3 mol % P2O5) and in iron-phosphate glass (at 53 mol % P2O5) stimulated the growth and metabolic activity of anaerobic bacteria in model systems. Dissolution of these phosphorous containing glasses was either inhibited or accelerated by microbial metabolic activity, depending on the solution chemistry and the glass composition. The breakdown of organic carbon to volatile fatty acids increased glass dissolution. The interaction of microbially reduced Fe(II) with phosphorus-containing glass under anoxic conditions decreased dissolution rates, whereas the interaction of Fe(III) with phosphorous-containing glass under oxic conditions increased glass dissolution. Phosphorous addition to borosilicate glasses did not significantly affect the microbial species present, however, the diversity of the microbial community was enhanced on the surface of the iron phosphate glass. Results demonstrate the potential for microbes to influence the geochemistry of radioactive waste disposal environments with implication for wasteform durability.

Research Organization:
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Science (SC); Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)
Grant/Contract Number:
AC05-76RL01830; EP/T011300/1; EP/T011424/1; EP/V035215/1; EP/N017374/1; EP/S012400/1; EP/G037140/1; EP/S022295/1
OSTI ID:
2299545
Report Number(s):
PNNL-SA-189634; TRN: US2408971
Journal Information:
Journal of Hazardous Materials, Vol. 462; ISSN 0304-3894
Publisher:
ElsevierCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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