Microbial Aspects of LLW Disposal at the UK Low Level Radioactive Waste Disposal Site

Humphreys, Paul; Kelly, E. J.; Binks, Peter; Howarth, David Armine

doi:10.1007/978-94-011-5792-6_24

Cited by 4 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 7 publications

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“… 2014 ). When considering the colonization of an ILW-GDF, the ability of microbes to migrate and adhere to niche areas such as ungrouted surfaces may allow for both microbial survival and growth under extreme alkaline conditions (Humphreys, West and Metcalfe 2010 ). The aim of this work was to culture, in situ , a biofilm forming consortium capable of colonizing cellulosic materials under anoxic, hyperalkaline conditions and to determine its ability to degrade CDP, which represent the primary organic carbon source within an ILW-GDF.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The enrichment of an alkaliphilic biofilm consortia capable of the anaerobic degradation of isosaccharinic acid from cellulosic materials incubated within an anthropogenic, hyperalkaline environment

Charles

Rout

Garratt

et al. 2015

FEMS Microbiology Ecology

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Anthropogenic hyperalkaline sites provide an environment that is analogous to proposed cementitious geological disposal facilities (GDF) for radioactive waste. Under anoxic, alkaline conditions cellulosic wastes will hydrolyze to a range of cellulose degradation products (CDP) dominated by isosaccharinic acids (ISA). In order to investigate the potential for microbial activity in a cementitious GDF, cellulose samples were incubated in the alkaline (∼pH 12), anaerobic zone of a lime kiln waste site. Following retrieval, these samples had undergone partial alkaline hydrolysis and were colonized by a Clostridia-dominated biofilm community, where hydrogenotrophic, alkaliphilic methanogens were also present. When these samples were used to establish an alkaline CDP fed microcosm, the community shifted away from Clostridia, methanogens became undetectable and a flocculate community dominated by Alishewanella sp. established. These flocs were composed of bacteria embedded in polysaccharides and proteins stabilized by extracellular DNA. This community was able to degrade all forms of ISA with >60% of the carbon flow being channelled into extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) production. This study demonstrated that alkaliphilic microbial communities can degrade the CDP associated with some radioactive waste disposal concepts at pH 11. These communities divert significant amounts of degradable carbon to EPS formation, suggesting that EPS has a central role in the protection of these communities from hyperalkaline conditions.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The enrichment of an alkaliphilic biofilm consortia capable of the anaerobic degradation of isosaccharinic acid from cellulosic materials incubated within an anthropogenic, hyperalkaline environment

Charles

Rout

Garratt

et al. 2015

FEMS Microbiology Ecology

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Fe(III) Reduction in the Subsurface at a Low-level Radioactive Waste Disposal Site

Wilkins

Livens

Vaughan

et al. 2010

Geomicrobiology Journal

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DRINK: a biogeochemical source term model for low level radioactive waste disposal sites

et al. 1997

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Interactions between element chemistry and the ambient geochemistry play a significant role in the control of radionuclide migration in the geosphere. These same interactions influence radionuclide release from near surface, low level radioactive waste, disposal sites once physical containment has degraded. In situations where LLW contains significant amounts of metal and organic materials such as cellulose, microbial degradation in conjunction with corrosion can significantly perturb the ambient geochemistry. These processes typically produce a transition from oxidising to reducing conditions and can influence radionuclide migration through changes in both the dominant radionuclide species and mineral phases. The DRINK (DRIgg Near field Kinetic) code is a biogeochemical transport code designed to simulate the long term evolution of the UK low level radioactive waste disposal site at Drigg. Drigg is the UK's principal solid low level radioactive waste disposal site and has been receiving waste since 1959. The interaction between microbial activity, the ambient geochemistry and radionuclide chemistry is central to the DRINK approach with the development of the ambient pH, redox potential and bulk geochemistry being directly influenced by microbial activity. This paper describes the microbial aspects of the code, site data underpinning the microbial model, the microbiology/chemistry interface and provides an example of the code in action.

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Microbial Aspects of LLW Disposal at the UK Low Level Radioactive Waste Disposal Site

Cited by 4 publications

References 7 publications

The enrichment of an alkaliphilic biofilm consortia capable of the anaerobic degradation of isosaccharinic acid from cellulosic materials incubated within an anthropogenic, hyperalkaline environment

The enrichment of an alkaliphilic biofilm consortia capable of the anaerobic degradation of isosaccharinic acid from cellulosic materials incubated within an anthropogenic, hyperalkaline environment

Fe(III) Reduction in the Subsurface at a Low-level Radioactive Waste Disposal Site

DRINK: a biogeochemical source term model for low level radioactive waste disposal sites

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