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Title: An Integrated Assessment of Geochemical and Community Structure Determinants of Metal Reduction Rates in Subsurface Sediments

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/925813· OSTI ID:925813

This project represented a joint effort between Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), the University of Tennessee (UT), and Florida State University (FSU). ORNL served as the lead in-stitution with Dr. A.V. Palumbo responsible for project coordination, integration, and deliver-ables. In situ uranium bioremediation is focused on biostimulating indigenous microorganisms through a combination of pH neutralization and the addition of large amounts of electron donor. Successful biostimulation of U(VI) reduction has been demonstrated in the field and in the laboratory. However, little data is available on the dynamics of microbial populations capable of U(VI) reduction, and the differences in the microbial community dynamics between proposed electron donors have not been explored. In order to elucidate the potential mechanisms of U(VI) reduction for optimization of bioremediation strategies, structure-function relationships of microbial populations were investigated in microcosms of subsurface materials cocontaminated with radionuclides and nitrate from the Oak Ridge Field Research Center (ORFRC), Oak Ridge, Tennessee.

Research Organization:
Florida State Univ., Tallahassee, FL (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE - Office of Energy Research (ER), Office of Biological and Environmental Research (OBER), Environmental Remediation Sciences Program (ERSP)
DOE Contract Number:
FG02-05ER63950
OSTI ID:
925813
Report Number(s):
DOE/FE/63950-final; 0010964; TRN: US1001281
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English