Influence of americium-241 on the microbial population and biodegradation of organic waste

Abstract

The present study investigated the influence of 241 Am on microbial growth and the degradation of organic waste. Leachate samples collected in a lysimeter were periodically analyzed for bacterial growth, under both aerobic and anaerobic conditions. 241 Am inhibited bacterial growth, and the degradation of organic matter was delayed in comparison with the control. Minimal inhibitory concentration assays and survival curves revealed that it inhibits the growth of Pseudomonas putida F1. The assay also revealed that 241 Am is more toxic than 238 U, Zn 2? and Cd 2? . This study further led to the finding of four new radionuclide-tolerant bacterial strains: Flavobacterium spp., Pseudomonas gladioli, Chryseobacterium indologenes and Ochrobactrum anthropi. The survival curves of P. gladioli, C. indologenes revealed that these bacteria are resistant to metal as consortia.

A Review on Bioremediation - An Emerging Technology for Treatment of Radionuclide Waste

“…Several microbes play an important role in interacting with americium, reducing Americium +3 to Americium +2, and adsorbing efficiently on their surface. Some common microbes involved in the reduction from the recovery of americium from devastate include Escherichia coli, Candida utilis, Ochrobactrumanthropi, Flavobacterium, Pseudomonas gladioli and Chryseobacteriumindologenes [131] , Rhizopusarrhizus [106] . The radioactive decay of all these neptunium, plutonium and americium are described in Figure 4.…”

Microbial bioremediation processes for radioactive waste

“…Microorganisms can play a pivotal role in changing 241 Am(III) solubility and efficient biosorption by E.coli, a marine bacterium, Rhizopus arrhizus, and Candida utilis [51][52][53][54]. In particular, Marumo et al reported the new radionuclides-tolerant bacterial strains such as Flavobacterium spp., Pseudomonas gladioli, Chryseobacterium indologenes and Ochrobactrum anthropi, which have an influence on the microbial community responsible for the degradation processes of organic waste [55,56].…”