Structural similarities between biogenic uraninites produced by phylogenetically and metabolically diverse bacteria.

Journal Article · Sun Nov 01 00:00:00 EDT 2009 · Environmental Science & Technology, 43(21):8295-8301

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/es901281e· OSTI ID:973427

Sharp, Jonathan; Schofield, Eleanor J; Veeramani, Harish; Suvorova, Elena; Kennedy, David W; Marshall, Matthew J; Mehta, Apurva; Bargar, John R; Bernier-Latmani, Rizlan

While the product of microbial uranium reduction is often reported to be“UO2”, a comprehensive characterization including stoichiometry and unit cell determination is available for only one Shewanella species. Here, we compare the products of batch uranyl reduction by a collection of dissimilatory metal- and sulfate-reducing bacteria of the genera Shewanella, Geobacter, Anaeromyxobacter, and Desulfovibrio under similar laboratory conditions. Our results demonstrate that U(VI) bioreduction by this assortment of commonly studied, environmentally relevant bacteria leads to the precipitation of uraninite with a composition between UO2.00 and UO2.075, regardless of phylogenetic or metabolic diversity. Coupled analyses, including electron microscopy, X-ray absorption spectroscopy, and powder diffraction, confirm that structurally and chemically analogous uraninite solids are produced. These biogenic uraninites have particle diameters of about 2-3 nm and lattice constants consistent with UO2.0 and exhibit a high degree of intermediate-range order. Results indicate that phylogenetic and metabolic variability within delta- and gamma-proteobacteria has little effect on nascent biouraninite structure or crystal size under the investigated conditions.

• Research Organization: Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-76RL01830
• OSTI ID: 973427
• Report Number(s): PNNL-SA-68771; KP1702030; TRN: US1001741
• Journal Information: Environmental Science & Technology, 43(21):8295-8301, Vol. 43, Issue 21; ISSN 0013-936X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS
ABSORPTION SPECTROSCOPY
BACTERIA
DESULFOVIBRIO
DIFFRACTION
ELECTRON MICROSCOPY
PRECIPITATION
STOICHIOMETRY
SULFATE-REDUCING BACTERIA
URANINITES
URANIUM
dissimilatory metal reduction
uranium-contaminated aquifer
shewanella-oneidensis mr-1
desulfovibrio-desulfuricans
geobacter-sulfurreducens
submicromolar levels
dissolved-oxygen
u(vi) reduction
bioreduction
reoxidation