The biogeochemistry and bioremediation of uranium and other priority radionuclides

Newsome, Laura; Morris, Katherine; Lloyd, Jonathan R.

doi:10.1016/j.chemgeo.2013.10.034

Cited by 403 publications

(297 citation statements)

References 294 publications

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“…The anthropogenic activities from mining to generation of spent fuel have led to uranium contamination in the environment [98][99][100]. Therefore, the microbial strategy has been explored not only to reclaim but also for remediation purposes.…”

Section: Bio-reclamation Of Other Critical Metalsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Bio-Reclamation of Strategic and Energy Critical Metals from Secondary Resources

Ilyas

Kim

Lee

et al. 2017

Metals

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Abstract:Metals with an average crustal abundance of <0.01 ppm, which are high in supply shortage due to soaring demand, can, under the excessive environmental risk and <1% recycling rate of their production, be termed as 'critical' in a limited geo-boundary. A global trend to the green energy and low carbon technologies with geopolitical scenario is challenging for the sustainable reclamation of these metals from secondary resources. Among the available processes, bio-reclamation can be a sustainable technique for extracting and concentrating these metals. Therefore, in the present paper, the potential reclamation of critical metals (including rare earth elements, precious metals, and a common nuclear fuel element, uranium) via their interaction with microbe/s has been reviewed.

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Section: Bio-reclamation Of Other Critical Metalsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Bio-Reclamation of Strategic and Energy Critical Metals from Secondary Resources

Ilyas

Kim

Lee

et al. 2017

Metals

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“…This contaminated dust gets settled by the phenomenon of radioactive fallout and causes pollution in soil and surface water bodies which finally gets transmitted to food web (Groudev et al 2001). Among all radionuclides, Uranium isotopes (238U, 235U, and 234U) consider as most dangerous element due to its high toxicity and radioactivity (Newsome et al 2014). Continuous mining and refining of uranium release many tons of radioactive pollutants which increase the risk of air, water, and soil contaminations.…”

Section: Prototheca Zopfimentioning

confidence: 99%

Green remediation. Tool for safe and sustainable environment: a review

et al. 2016

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Nowadays, the bioremediation of toxic pollutants is a subject of interest in terms of health issues and environmental cleaning. In the present review, an ecofriendly, cost-effective approach is discussed for the detoxification of environmental pollutants by the means of natural purifier, i.e., blue-green algae over the conventional methods. Industrial wastes having toxic pollutants are not able to eliminate completely by existing the conventional techniques; in fact, these methods can only change their form rather than the entire degradation. These pollutants have an adverse effect on aquatic life, such as fauna and flora, and finally harm human life directly or indirectly. Cyanobacterial approach for the removal of this contaminant is an efficient tool for sustainable development and pollution control. Cyanobacteria are the primary consumers of food chain which absorbed complex toxic compounds from environments and convert them to simple nontoxic compounds which finally protect higher food chain consumer and eliminate risk of pollution. In addition, these organisms have capability to solve secondary pollution, as they can remediate radioactive compound, petroleum waste and degrade toxins from pesticides.

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“…It is now recognized that the wastes, which can include nitrate, iron, metal oxides, radionuclides, H 2 gas (produced by the corrosion of steel waste) and organic carbon (e.g., cellulose-derived compounds) are likely to create conditions favorable for microbial growth. Microbial transformations of radionuclides under reducing conditions are well reported at circumneutral pH (e.g., Anderson et al 2003;Bernier-Latmani et al 2010;Boyanov et al 2011;Newsome et al 2014). However, very little is known about microorganisms that can potentially reduce metals and radionuclides under alkaline conditions, although they may potentially control the speciation and solubility of several key radionuclides via complexation with ligands produced by microbial metabolism, by reduction or by mineralization processes.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Bacterial Diversity in the Hyperalkaline Allas Springs (Cyprus), a Natural Analogue for Cementitious Radioactive Waste Repository

Rizoulis

Milodowski

Morris

et al. 2016

Geomicrobiology Journal

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The biogeochemical gradients that will develop across the interface between a highly alkaline cementitious geological disposal facility for intermediate level radioactive waste and the geosphere are poorly understood. In addition, there is a paucity of information about the microorganisms that may populate these environments and their role in biomineralization, gas consumption and generation, metal cycling, and on radionuclide speciation and solubility. In this study, we investigated the phylogenetic diversity of indigenous microbial communities and their potential for alkaline metal reduction in samples collected from a natural analogue for cementitious radioactive waste repositories, the hyperalkaline Allas Springs (pH up to 11.9), Troodos Mountains, Cyprus. The site is situated within an ophiolitic complex of ultrabasic rocks that are undergoing active low-temperature serpentinization, which results in hyperalkaline conditions. 16S rRNA cloning and sequencing showed that phylogenetically diverse microbial communities exist in this natural high pH environment, including Hydrogenophaga species. This indicates that alkali-tolerant hydrogen-oxidizing microorganisms could potentially colonize an alkaline geological repository, which is predicted to be rich in molecular H 2 , as a result of processes including steel corrosion and cellulose biodegradation within the wastes. Moreover, microbial metal reduction was confirmed at alkaline pH in this study by enrichment microcosms and by pure cultures of bacterial isolates affiliated to the Paenibacillus and Alkaliphilus genera. Overall, these data show that a diverse range of microbiological processes can occur in high pH environments, consistent with those expected during the geodisposal of intermediate level waste. Many of these, including gas metabolism and metal reduction, have clear implications for the long-term geological disposal of radioactive waste.

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The biogeochemistry and bioremediation of uranium and other priority radionuclides

Cited by 403 publications

References 294 publications

Bio-Reclamation of Strategic and Energy Critical Metals from Secondary Resources

Bio-Reclamation of Strategic and Energy Critical Metals from Secondary Resources

Green remediation. Tool for safe and sustainable environment: a review

Bacterial Diversity in the Hyperalkaline Allas Springs (Cyprus), a Natural Analogue for Cementitious Radioactive Waste Repository

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