Uranium Immobilization by Sulfate-Reducing Biofilms Grown on Hematite, Dolomite, And Calcite

• Published in: Environmental science & technology Vol. 41; no. 24; pp. 8349 - 8354
• Main Authors: Marsili, Enrico, Beyenal, Haluk, Palma, Luca Di, Merli, Carlo, Dohnalkova, Alice, Amonette, James, E, Lewandowski, Zbigniew
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington, DC American Chemical Society 15.12.2007
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Bacteria; Biofilms; buffers; Calcium Carbonate - chemistry; Desulfovibrio desulfuricans; Desulfovibrio desulfuricans - metabolism; Environmental Processes; Exact sciences and technology; Ferric Compounds - chemistry; Fixed bed reactors; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Magnesium - chemistry; Minerals; Pollution; Q1; Q2; Studies; Sulfate-reducing bacteria; Sulfates - chemistry; Uranium; Uranium - metabolism; Sulfate-reducing bacteria; Radioactive pollution; Uranium; Fixed bed reactor; Biofilm; Immobilization; Radioisotope; Sulfates
• ISSN: 0013-936X; 1520-5851
• DOI: 10.1021/es071335k

Biofilms of sulfate-reducing bacteria Desulfovibrio desulfuricans G20 were used 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.