Efficient bioremediation of radioactive iodine using biogenic gold nanomaterial-containing radiation-resistant bacterium, Deinococcus radiodurans R1

Abstract

We herein report a new bioremediation method using a radiation-resistant bacterium. Biogenic gold nanomaterial-containing Deinococcus radiodurans R1 showed excellent capability for the removal of radioactive iodine (>99%) in several aqueous solutions. These observations demonstrated that our remediation system would be efficiently applied to the treatment of radioactive wastes.

Functionalized Nanomaterial Assembling and Biosynthesis Using the Extremophile Deinococcus radiodurans for Multifunctional Applications

“…As reported, the MIC of Au(III) chloride in Escherichia coli was 0.02 m m . The extremophile D. radiodurans at the OD 600 value of 1.0 was able to tolerate high concentrations beyond 1.25 m m of chloroauric acid (HAuCl 4 ) and 2.5 m m of silver nitrate (AgNO 3 ) . The extremophile still kept active under the above conditions.…”

“…Gold nanomaterials extracted from D. radiodurans cells (Au−DR) exhibited a broad absorption peak at 500–600 nm and diverse morphologies. The size of Au−DR distributed over the cytosolic region was mostly 58.5 nm . The AgNPs from a D. radiodurans cell‐free supernatant (Dr−AgNPs) showed a prominent absorption peak at ≈426 nm, which was synthesized at 32 °C, pH 6.8, 2.5 m m AgNO 3 , and 24 h of incubation time.…”

“…The engineered nanomaterials play a vital role in nuclear waste treatment when used as adsorbents due to their large surface area . The biogenic gold nanomaterial‐containing D. radiodurans (Au−DR) exhibited excellent capability for the removal of radioactive iodine with an efficiency of >99% in several aqueous solutions, which was accomplished through the adsorption process ( Figure A) . The Au−DR had the potential to remedy metal radioisotopes and radioactive iodine in high radiation environments.…”

“…Schematic illustration of the bioremediation procedure of radioactive iodine anions using Au−DR (A), (Reproduced with permission . Copyright 2017, Royal Society of Chemistry); and Ag−DR (B) (Reproduced with permission .…”

Silver Nanomaterial-Immobilized Desalination Systems for Efficient Removal of Radioactive Iodine Species in Water

“…Although silver metal-based adsorbents show high removal efficiencies, they have physical and spatial limitations for on-site remediation [ 36 ]. Meanwhile, bioremediation has certain advantages over physicochemical methods, including cost-effectiveness, eco-friendliness, and practicality [ 42 ]. Thus, bioremediation is considered as an alternative to previous physicochemical treatment processes.…”