Microbial interactions with phosphorus containing glasses representative of vitrified radioactive waste

• Published in: Journal of hazardous materials Vol. 462
• Main Authors: Thorpe, Clare, Crawford, Rachel, Hand, Russell J., Radford, Joshua, Corkhill, Claire L., Pearce, Carolyn I., Neeway, James J., Plymale, Andrew E., Kruger, Albert A., Morris, Katherine, Boothman, Christopher, Lloyd, Jon
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier 29.09.2023
• Subjects: biodegradation; MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE WASTES FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES; nuclear waste
• ISSN: 0304-3894

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.