Uranium association with halophilic and non-halophilic bacteria and archaea

Bioremediation of uranium (Ⅵ) using a native strain Halomonas campaniensis ZFSY-04 isolated from uranium mining and milling effluent: Potential and mechanism

A significant surge in the exploitation of uranium resources has resulted in considerable amounts of radioactive effluents. Thus, efficient and eco-friendly uranium removal strategies need to be explored to ensure ecological safety and resource recovery. In this study, we investigated the resistance of Halomonas campaniensis strain ZFSY-04, isolated from an evaporation pool at a uranium mine site, and its potential mechanism of uranium (Ⅵ) removal. The results showed that the strain exhibited unique uranium tolerance and its growth was not significantly inhibited under a uranium concentration of 700 mg/L. It had a maximum loading capacity of 865.40 mg/g (dry weight), achieved following incubation under uranium concentration of 100 mg/L, pH 6.0, and temperature 30 °C, for 2 h, indicating that the removal of uranium by the strain was efficient and rapid. Combined with kinetic, isothermal, thermodynamic, and microspectral analyses, the mechanism of uranium loading by strain ZFSY-04 was metabolism-dependent and diverse, including, physical and chemical adsorption on the cell surface, extracellular biomineralisation, intracellular bioaccumulation, and biomineralisation. Our results highlight the unique properties of indigenous strains, including high resistance, high efficiency, rapid uranium removal, and various uranium removal strategies, which make it suitable as a new tool for in situ bioremediation and uranium-contaminated environmental resource recovery.

Microbial Influence on the Mobility of +3 Actinides from a Salt-Based Nuclear Waste Repository

Biologically enhanced transport of radionuclides is one of several processes that can affect the performance of a nuclear waste repository. In this work, several microbial isolates from the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) were tested for their influence on the concentration of neodymium, as an analog for +3 actinides, in simple sodium chloride solutions and in anoxic WIPP brines. Batch sorption experiments were carried out over a period of 4-5 weeks. In many cases, the effect on neodymium in solution was immediate and extensive and assumed to be due to surface complexation. However, over time, the continued loss of Nd from the solution was more likely due to biologically induced precipitation and/or mineralization and possible entrapment in extracellular polymeric substances. The results showed no correlation between organism type and the extent of its influence on neodymium in solution. However, a correlation was observed between different test matrices (simple NaCl versus high-magnesium brine versus high-NaCl brine). Further experiments were conducted to test these matrix effects, and the results showed a significant effect of magnesium concentration on the ability of microorganisms to remove Nd from solution. Possible mechanisms include cation competition and the alteration of cell surface structures. This suggests that the aqueous chemistry of the WIPP environs could play a larger role in the final disposition of +3 actinides than the microbiology.

Uranium adsorption – a review of progress from qualitative understanding to advanced model development

Surface adsorption has a major influence on the environmental mobility of radionuclides, including uranium. Six decades ago, the description of the sorption process relied predominantly on simple descriptive parameters of solid–liquid partitioning (such as Kd values). There have since been numerous systematic investigations of the processes controlling U adsorption, including the affinity of U for different types of geologic materials, the influence of factors such as pH, the effects of complexing ligands, and the role of microorganisms. Mathematical descriptions of sorption processes have adopted various models – including sorption isotherms, surface complexation models and other types of modelling approaches, aided by advances in computational and analytical techniques. In recent years, mechanistic models have incorporated structural insights gained from spectroscopic techniques (such as EXAFS and TRLFS). Throughout the period, the nuclear waste community has sought to develop models for U sorption in complex systems associated with radioactive waste disposal, involving a range of mineral surfaces and incorporating numerous interactions and processes. To some extent, the ongoing questions concerning U adsorption can be considered as being common to many environmental metal contaminants. However, uranium is a unique and significant case, particularly for the radiochemical community, where the long-term behaviour of actinides is a central issue.

Cupriavidus metallidurans NA4 actively forms polyhydroxybutyrate-associated uranium-phosphate precipitates

Cupriavidus metallidurans is a model bacterium to study molecular metal resistance mechanisms and its use for the bioremediation of several metals has been shown. However, its mechanisms for radionuclide resistance are unexplored. We investigated the interaction with uranium and associated cellular response to uranium for Cupriavidus metallidurans NA4. Strain NA4 actively captured 98 ± 1% of the uranium in its biomass after growing 24 h in the presence of 100 µM uranyl nitrate. TEM HAADF-EDX microscopy confirmed intracellular uranium-phosphate precipitates that were mainly associated with polyhydroxybutyrate. Furthermore, whole transcriptome sequencing indicated a complex transcriptional response with upregulation of genes encoding general stress-related proteins and several genes involved in metal resistance. More in particular, gene clusters known to be involved in copper and silver resistance were differentially expressed. This study provides further insights into bacterial interactions with and their response to uranium. Our results could be promising for uranium bioremediation purposes with the multi-metal resistant bacterium C. metallidurans NA4.

Association of Eu(III) and Cm(III) onto an extremely halophilic archaeon

In addition to geological, geochemical, and geophysical aspects, also, microbial aspects have to be taken into account when considering the final storage of high-level radioactive waste in a deep geological repository. Rock salt is a potential host rock formation for such a repository. One indigenous microorganism, that is, common in rock salt, is the halophilic archaeon Halobacterium noricense DSM15987^T, which was used in our study to investigate its interactions with the trivalent actinide curium and its inactive analogue europium as a function of time and concentration. Time-resolved laser-induced fluorescence spectroscopy was applied to characterize formed species in the micromolar europium concentration range. An extended evaluation of the data with parallel factor analysis revealed the association of Eu(III) to a phosphate compound released by the cells (F₂/F₁ ratio, 2.50) and a solid phosphate species (F₂/F₁ ratio, 1.80). The association with an aqueous phosphate species and a solid phosphate species was proven with site-selective TRLFS. Experiments with Cm(III) in the nanomolar concentration range showed a time- and pC_H+-dependent species distribution. These species were characterized by red-shifted emission maxima, 600-602 nm, in comparison to the free Cm(III) aqueous ion, 593.8 nm. After 24 h, 40% of the luminescence intensity was measured on the cells corresponding to 0.18 μg Cm(III)/g_DBM. Our results demonstrate that Halobacterium noricense DSM15987^T interacts with Eu(III) by the formation of phosphate species, whereas for Cm(III), a complexation with carboxylic functional groups was also observed.

Impact of Haloarchaea on Speciation of Uranium-A Multispectroscopic Approach

Haloarchaea represent a predominant part of the microbial community in rock salt, which can serve as host rock for the disposal of high level radioactive waste. However, knowledge is missing about how Haloarchaea interact with radionuclides. Here, we used a combination of spectroscopic and microscopic methods to study the interactions of an extremely halophilic archaeon with uranium, one of the major radionuclides in high level radioactive waste, on a molecular level. The obtained results show that Halobacterium noricense DSM 15987^T influences uranium speciation as a function of uranium concentration and incubation time. X-ray absorption spectroscopy reveals the formation of U(VI) phosphate minerals, such as meta-autunite, as the major species at a lower uranium concentration of 30 μM, while U(VI) is mostly associated with carboxylate groups of the cell wall and extracellular polymeric substances at a higher uranium concentration of 85 μM. For the first time, we identified uranium biomineralization in the presence of Halobacterium noricense DSM 15987^T cells. These findings highlight the potential importance of Archaea in geochemical cycling of uranium and their role in biomineralization in hypersaline environments, offering new insights into the microbe-actinide interactions in highly saline conditions relevant to the disposal of high-level radioactive waste as well as bioremediation.

Comparative analysis of uranium bioassociation with halophilic bacteria and archaea

Rock salt represents a potential host rock formation for the final disposal of radioactive waste. The interactions between indigenous microorganisms and radionuclides, e.g. uranium, need to be investigated to better predict the influence of microorganisms on the safety assessment of the repository. Hence, the association process of uranium with two microorganisms isolated from rock salt was comparatively studied. Brachybacterium sp. G1, which was isolated from the German salt dome Gorleben, and Halobacterium noricense DSM15987T, were selected as examples of a moderately halophilic bacterium and an extremely halophilic archaeon, respectively. The microorganisms exhibited completely different association behaviors with uranium. While a pure biosorption process took place with Brachybacterium sp. G1 cells, a multistage association process occurred with the archaeon. In addition to batch experiments, in situ attenuated total reflection Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy was applied to characterize the U(VI) interaction process. Biosorption was identified as the dominating process for Brachybacterium sp. G1 with this method. Carboxylic functionalities are the dominant interacting groups for the bacterium, whereas phosphoryl groups are also involved in U(VI) association by the archaeon H. noricense.

Radiation, radionuclides and bacteria: An in-perspective review

There has been a significant surge in consumption of radionuclides for various academic and commercial purposes. Correspondingly, there has been a considerable amount of generation of radioactive waste. Bacteria and archaea, being earliest inhabitants on earth serve as model microorganisms on earth. These microbes have consistently proven their mettle by surviving extreme environments, even extreme ionizing radiations. Their ability to accept and undergo stable genetic mutations have led to development of recombinant mutants that are been exploited for remediation of various pollutants such as; heavy metals, hydrocarbons and even radioactive waste (radwaste). Thus, microbes have repeatedly presented themselves to be prime candidates suitable for remediation of radwaste. It is interesting to study the behind-the-scenes interactions these microbes possess when observed in presence of radionuclides. The emphasis is on the indigenous bacteria isolated from radionuclide containing environments as well as the five fundamental interaction mechanisms that have been studied extensively, namely; bioaccumulation, biotransformation, biosorption, biosolubilisation and bioprecipitation. Application of microbes exhibiting such mechanisms in remediation of radioactive waste depends largely on the individual capability of the species. Challenges pertaining to its potential bioremediation activity is also been briefly discussed. This review provides an insight into the various mechanisms bacteria uses to tolerate, survive and carry out processes that could potentially lead the eco-friendly approach for removal of radionuclides.

Multistage bioassociation of uranium onto an extremely halophilic archaeon revealed by a unique combination of spectroscopic and microscopic techniques

The interactions of two extremely halophilic archaea with uranium were investigated at high ionic strength as a function of time, pH and uranium concentration. Halobacterium noricense DSM-15987 and Halobacterium sp. putatively noricense, isolated from the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant repository, were used for these investigations. The kinetics of U(VI) bioassociation with both strains showed an atypical multistage behavior, meaning that after an initial phase of U(VI) sorption, an unexpected interim period of U(VI) release was observed, followed by a slow reassociation of uranium with the cells. By applying in situ attenuated total reflection Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, the involvement of phosphoryl and carboxylate groups in U(VI) complexation during the first biosorption phase was shown. Differences in cell morphology and uranium localization become visible at different stages of the bioassociation process, as shown with scanning electron microscopy in combination with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. Our results demonstrate for the first time that association of uranium with the extremely halophilic archaeon is a multistage process, beginning with sorption and followed by another process, probably biomineralization.

Combined use of flow cytometry and microscopy to study the interactions between the gram-negative betaproteobacterium Acidovorax facilis and uranium(VI)

The former uranium mine Königstein (Saxony, Germany) is currently in the process of remediation by means of controlled underground flooding. Nevertheless, the flooding water has to be cleaned up by a conventional wastewater treatment plant. In this study, the uranium(VI) removal and tolerance mechanisms of the gram-negative betaproteobacterium Acidovorax facilis were investigated by a multidisciplinary approach combining wet chemistry, flow cytometry, and microscopy. The kinetics of uranium removal and the corresponding mechanisms were investigated. The results showed a biphasic process of uranium removal characterized by a first phase where 95% of uranium was removed within the first 8h followed by a second phase that reached equilibrium after 24h. The bacterial cells displayed a total uranium removal capacity of 130mgU/g dry biomass. The removal of uranium was also temperature-dependent, indicating that metabolic activity heavily influenced bacterial interactions with uranium. TEM analyses showed biosorption on the cell surface and intracellular accumulation of uranium. Uranium tolerance tests showed that A. facilis was able to withstand concentrations up to 0.1mM. This work demonstrates that A. facilis is a suitable candidate for in situ bioremediation of flooding water in Königstein as well as for other contaminated waste waters.

Uranium bioprecipitation mediated by yeasts utilizing organic phosphorus substrates

In this research, we have demonstrated the ability of several yeast species to mediate U(VI) biomineralization through uranium phosphate biomineral formation when utilizing an organic source of phosphorus (glycerol 2-phosphate disodium salt hydrate (C3H7Na2O6P·xH2O (G2P)) or phytic acid sodium salt hydrate (C6H18O24P6·xNa(+)·yH2O (PyA))) in the presence of soluble UO2(NO3)2. The formation of meta-ankoleite (K2(UO2)2(PO4)2·6(H2O)), chernikovite ((H3O)2(UO2)2(PO4)2·6(H2O)), bassetite (Fe(++)(UO2)2(PO4)2·8(H2O)), and uramphite ((NH4)(UO2)(PO4)·3(H2O)) on cell surfaces was confirmed by X-ray diffraction in yeasts grown in a defined liquid medium amended with uranium and an organic phosphorus source, as well as in yeasts pre-grown in organic phosphorus-containing media and then subsequently exposed to UO2(NO3)2. The resulting minerals depended on the yeast species as well as physico-chemical conditions. The results obtained in this study demonstrate that phosphatase-mediated uranium biomineralization can occur in yeasts supplied with an organic phosphate substrate as sole source of phosphorus. Further understanding of yeast interactions with uranium may be relevant to development of potential treatment methods for uranium waste and utilization of organic phosphate sources and for prediction of microbial impacts on the fate of uranium in the environment.

Uranium Binding Mechanisms of the Acid-Tolerant Fungus Coniochaeta fodinicola

The uptake and binding of uranium [as (UO2)(2+)] by a moderately acidophilic fungus, Coniochaeta fodinicola, recently isolated from a uranium mine site, is examined in this work in order to better understand the potential impact of organisms such as this on uranium sequestration in hydrometallurgical systems. Our results show that the viability of the fungal biomass is critical to their capacity to remove uranium from solution. Indeed, live biomass (viable cells based on vital staining) were capable of removing ∼16 mg U/g dry weight in contrast with dead biomass (autoclaved) which removed ∼45 mg U/g dry weight after 2 h. Furthermore, the uranium binds with different strength, with a fraction ranging from ∼20-50% being easily leached from the exposed biomass by a 10 min acid wash. Results from X-ray absorption spectroscopy measurements show that the strength of uranium binding is strongly influenced by cell viability, with live cells showing a more well-ordered uranium bonding environment, while the distance to carbon or phosphorus second neighbors is similar in all samples. When coupled with time-resolved laser fluorescence and Fourier transformed infrared measurements, the importance of organic acids, phosphates, and polysaccharides, likely released with fungal cell death, appear to be the primary determinants of uranium binding in this system. These results provide an important progression to our understanding with regard to uranium sequestration in hydrometallurgical applications with implications to the unwanted retention of uranium in biofilms and/or its mobility in a remediation context.

Uranium phosphate biomineralization by fungi

Geoactive soil fungi were investigated for phosphatase-mediated uranium precipitation during growth on an organic phosphorus source. Aspergillus niger and Paecilomyces javanicus were grown on modified Czapek-Dox medium amended with glycerol 2-phosphate (G2P) as sole P source and uranium nitrate. Both organisms showed reduced growth on uranium-containing media but were able to extensively precipitate uranium and phosphorus-containing minerals on hyphal surfaces, and these were identified by X-ray powder diffraction as uranyl phosphate species, including potassium uranyl phosphate hydrate (KPUO6 .3H2 O), meta-ankoleite [(K1.7 Ba0.2 )(UO2 )2 (PO4 )2 .6H2 O], uranyl phosphate hydrate [(UO2 )3 (PO4 )2 .4H2 O], meta-ankoleite (K(UO2 )(PO4 ).3H2 O), uramphite (NH4 UO2 PO4 .3H2 O) and chernikovite [(H3 O)2 (UO2 )2 (PO4 )2 .6H2 O]. Some minerals with a morphology similar to bacterial hydrogen uranyl phosphate were detected on A. niger biomass. Geochemical modelling confirmed the complexity of uranium speciation, and the presence of meta-ankoleite, uramphite and uranyl phosphate hydrate between pH 3 and 8 closely matched the experimental data, with potassium as the dominant cation. We have therefore demonstrated that fungi can precipitate U-containing phosphate biominerals when grown with an organic source of P, with the hyphal matrix serving to localize the resultant uranium minerals. The findings throw further light on potential fungal roles in U and P biogeochemistry as well as the application of these mechanisms for element recovery or bioremediation.

A spectroscopic study on U(VI) biomineralization in cultivated Pseudomonas fluorescens biofilms isolated from granitic aquifers

The interaction between the Pseudomonas fluorescens biofilm and U(VI) were studied using extended X-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy (EXAFS), and time-resolved laser fluorescence spectroscopy (TRLFS). In EXAFS studies, the formation of a stable uranyl phosphate mineral, similar to autunite (Ca[UO2]2[PO4]2•2-6H2O) or meta-autunite (Ca[UO2]2[PO4]2•10-12H2O) was observed. This is the first time such a biomineralization process has been observed in P. fluorescens. Biomineralization occurs due to phosphate release from the cellular polyphosphate, likely as a cell's response to the added uranium. It differs significantly from the biosorption process occurring in the planktonic cells of the same strain. TRLFS studies of the uranium-contaminated nutrient medium identified aqueous Ca2UO2(CO3)3 and UO2(CO3)3 (4-) species, which in contrast to the biomineralization in the P. fluorescens biofilm, may contribute to the transport and migration of U(VI). The obtained results reveal that biofilms of P. fluorescens may play an important role in predicting the transport behavior of uranium in the environment. They will also contribute to the improvement of remediation methods in uranium-contaminated sites.

Biosorption of uranium on Bacillus sp. dwc-2: preliminary investigation on mechanism

In this paper, the biosorption mechanisms of uranium on an aerobic Bacillus sp. dwc-2, isolated from a potential disposal site for (ultra-) low uraniferous radioactive waste in Southwest China, was explored by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis, FT-IR spectroscopy, proton induced X-ray emission (PIXE) and enhanced proton backscattering spectrometry (EPBS). The biosorption experiments for uranium were carried out at a low pH (pH 3.0), where the uranium solution speciation is dominated by highly mobile uranyl ions. The bioaccumulation was found to be the potential mechanism involved in uranium biosorption by Bacillus sp. dwc-2, and the bioaccumulated uranium was deposited in the cell interior as needle shaped particles at pH 3.0, as revealed by TEM analysis as well as EDX spectra. FTIR analysis further suggested that the absorbed uranium was bound to amino, phosphate and carboxyl groups of bacterial cells. Additionally, PIXE and EPBS results confirmed that ion-exchange also contributed to the adsorption process of uranium. All the results implied that the biosorption mechanism of uranium on Bacillus sp. is complicated and at least involves bioaccumulation, ion exchange and complexation process.

Phylogenetic diversity of archaea and the archaeal ammonia monooxygenase gene in uranium mining-impacted locations in Bulgaria

Uranium mining and milling activities adversely affect the microbial populations of impacted sites. The negative effects of uranium on soil bacteria and fungi are well studied, but little is known about the effects of radionuclides and heavy metals on archaea. The composition and diversity of archaeal communities inhabiting the waste pile of the Sliven uranium mine and the soil of the Buhovo uranium mine were investigated using 16S rRNA gene retrieval. A total of 355 archaeal clones were selected, and their 16S rDNA inserts were analysed by restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) discriminating 14 different RFLP types. All evaluated archaeal 16S rRNA gene sequences belong to the 1.1b/Nitrososphaera cluster of Crenarchaeota. The composition of the archaeal community is distinct for each site of interest and dependent on environmental characteristics, including pollution levels. Since the members of 1.1b/Nitrososphaera cluster have been implicated in the nitrogen cycle, the archaeal communities from these sites were probed for the presence of the ammonia monooxygenase gene (amoA). Our data indicate that amoA gene sequences are distributed in a similar manner as in Crenarchaeota, suggesting that archaeal nitrification processes in uranium mining-impacted locations are under the control of the same key factors controlling archaeal diversity.

Toxicity of ionic liquids to Clostridium sp. and effects on uranium biosorption

As green solvents ionic liquids (ILs) show high potential in nuclear industry for extraction and purification of actinides. However, to date relatively little information has been gained on ILs application in microbial processes, for example biosorption of radionuclides. We investigated the effects of three ILs, 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate (BMIMPF6), N-ethylpyridinium trifluoroacetate (EtPyCF3COO) and N-ethylpyridinium tetrafluoroborate (EtPyBF4) on the growth and biosorption of uranium by Clostridium sp. The ILs affected the growth of the bacterium as evidenced by decreases in optical density, total gas production, and organic acids production from glucose metabolism. The IC50-48h of three ILs decreased in the order of BMIMPF6 (8.26mM)>EtPyBF4 (7.04mM)>EtPyCF3COO (4.05mM). Uranium biosorption by the bacterial cells decreased by 75% in the presence of 1% (v/v) BMIMPF6 and by about 90% with 1% (v/v) EtPyBF4 or EtPyCF3COO, in comparison to the control without ILs. The diminished biosorption may be attributed to the membrane damages induced by EtPyBF4 and EtPyCF3COO, which can be visualized by Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM) analysis. Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) analysis revealed the accumulation of uranium inside peripheral membrane of the cells exposed to uranium alone or with BMIMPF6, while little or no accumulation was observed in the presence of EtPyBF4 and EtPyCF3COO. These results imply that potential toxicity of ILs towards microorganisms is a particularly important issue in limiting its biotechnological applications.

Isolation and analyses of uranium tolerant Serratia marcescens strains and their utilization for aerobic uranium U(VI) bioadsorption

Enrichment-based methods targeted at uranium-tolerant populations among the culturable, aerobic, chemo-heterotrophic bacteria from the subsurface soils of Domiasiat (India's largest sandstone-type uranium deposits, containing an average ore grade of 0.1 % U(3)O(8)), indicated a wide occurrence of Serratia marcescens. Five representative S. marcescens isolates were characterized by a polyphasic taxonomic approach. The phylogenetic analyses of 16S rRNA gene sequences showed their relatedness to S. marcescens ATCC 13880 (≥99.4% similarity). Biochemical characteristics and random amplified polymorphic DNA profiles revealed significant differences among the representative isolates and the type strain as well. The minimum inhibitory concentration for uranium U(VI) exhibited by these natural isolates was found to range from 3.5-4.0 mM. On evaluation for their uranyl adsorption properties, it was found that all these isolates were able to remove nearly 90-92% (21-22 mg/L) and 60-70% (285-335 mg/L) of U(VI) on being challenged with 100 μM (23.8 mg/L) and 2 mM (476 mg/L) uranyl nitrate solutions, respectively, at pH 3.5 within 10 min of exposure. his capacity was retained by the isolates even after 24 h of incubation. Viability tests confirmed the tolerance of these isolates to toxic concentrations of soluble uranium U(VI) at pH 3.5. This is among the first studies to report uranium-tolerant aerobic chemoheterotrophs obtained from the pristine uranium ore-bearing site of Domiasiat.

Coordination of uranium(VI) with functional groups of bacterial lipopolysaccharide studied by EXAFS and FT-IR spectroscopy

The complexation of uranyl ions with lipopolysaccharide (LPS), the main component of the cell wall of Gram-negative bacteria, was investigated on a molecular level with U L(III)-edge extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) and attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FT-IR) spectroscopy over a wide pH range (2.6 to 7.0). For the first time, structural determinations of uranyl complexes with cell wall compounds were extended from acidic up to neutral pH. The main functionalities responsible for uranyl binding are phosphoryl and carboxyl groups. At an excess of LPS, related to environmental conditions, the uranyl ion is mainly complexed by phosphoryl groups four-fold monodentately coordinated in the equatorial plane of the uranyl dioxo cation UO(2)(2+) showing great homologies to the uranyl mineral phase meta-autunite in the EXAFS spectra. At equimolar ratios of uranyl and functional groups of LPS, according to a slight deficit of phosphoryl groups, additional carboxyl coordination in a bidentate manner becomes important as it is shown by IR spectroscopy. From the vibrational spectra, a mixed coordination of UO(2)(2+) with both phosphoryl and carboxyl groups is derived. The coordination of uranyl ions to the LPS molecule is obviously mainly controlled by the U/LPS concentration ratio, and the influence of pH is only of minor significance at the investigated range.

Bioaccumulation of U(VI) by Sulfolobus acidocaldarius under moderate acidic conditions

U(VI) accumulation by the acidothermophilic archaeon Sulfolobus acidocaldarius at a moderate acidic pH of 4.5 was investigated. This pH value is relevant for some heavy metal and uranium polluted environments where populations of S. acidocaldarius were found to persist. We demonstrate that U(VI) is rapidly complexed by the archaeal cells. A combination of X-ray absorption spectroscopy and time-resolved laser-induced fluorescence spectroscopy revealed that at pH 4.5 organic phosphate and carboxylic groups are involved in the U(VI) complexation. These results are in contrast to those published for most bacteria which at this pH precipitate U(VI) mainly in inorganic uranyl phosphate phases. As demonstrated by TEM only a limited part of the added U(VI) was biomineralized extracellularly in the case of the studied archaeon. Most of the U(VI) accumulates were localized in a form of intracellular deposits which were associated with the inner side of the cytoplasma membrane. Observed differences in U(VI) bioaccumulation between the studied archaeon and bacteria can be explained by the significant differences in their cell wall structures as well as by their different physiological characteristics.

Interactions of Sulfolobus acidocaldarius with uranium

Interactions of the acidothermophilic archaeon Sulfolobus acidocaldarius DSM 639 with U(VI) were studied by using a combination of batch experiments, X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS), and time-resolved laser-induced fluorescence spectroscopy (TRLFS). We demonstrated that at pH 2 this archaeal strain possesses a low tolerance to U(VI) and that its growth is limited to a uranium concentration below 1.1 mM. At similarly high acidic conditions (pH 1.5 and 3.0), covering the physiological pH growth optimum of S. acidocaldarius, at which U(VI) is soluble and highly toxic, rapid accumulation of the radionuclide by the cells of the strain occurred. About half of the uranium binding capacity was reached by the strain after an incubation of five minutes and nearly total saturation of the binding sites was achieved after 30 min. Both, EXAFS- and TRLF-spectroscopic analyses showed that the accumulated U(VI) was complexed mainly through organic phosphate groups. The EXAFS measurements revealed that U(VI) is coordinated to the organic phosphate ligands of the archaeal cells in a monodentate binding mode with an average U–P bond distance of 3.60±0.02 Å.

Interaction mechanisms of bacterial strains isolated from extreme habitats with uranium

This paper summarizes the effect of pH on the speciation and cellular localization of uranium bound by bacterial strains isolated from the S15 deep-well montoring site, located at the Siberian radioactive subsurface depository Tomsk-7, Russia. Microbiological methods in combination with extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) were applied. EXAFS analysis showed that the cells of the two isolates, Microbacterium oxydans S15-M2 and Sphingomonas sp. S15-S1, precipitate U(VI) as m-autunite-like phase at pH 4.5, probably due to the release of inorganic phosphate from the cells as result of the microbial metabolism. However, at pH 2 uranium formed complexes with organically bound phosphates of the cell surface. The results of the EXAFS studies corroborate those found using TEM and EDX analysis. Hypotheses explaining the different coordination chemistry of uranium to bacteria as a function of pH of uranium solution in terms of solubility of m-autunite and/or microbial activity are discussed.

Quantum mechanical calculation of aqueuous uranium complexes: carbonate, phosphate, organic and biomolecular species

BACKGROUND

Quantum mechanical calculations were performed on a variety of uranium species representing U(VI), U(V), U(IV), U-carbonates, U-phosphates, U-oxalates, U-catecholates, U-phosphodiesters, U-phosphorylated N-acetyl-glucosamine (NAG), and U-2-Keto-3-doxyoctanoate (KDO) with explicit solvation by H2O molecules. These models represent major U species in natural waters and complexes on bacterial surfaces. The model results are compared to observed EXAFS, IR, Raman and NMR spectra.

RESULTS

Agreement between experiment and theory is acceptable in most cases, and the reasons for discrepancies are discussed. Calculated Gibbs free energies are used to constrain which configurations are most likely to be stable under circumneutral pH conditions. Reduction of U(VI) to U(IV) is examined for the U-carbonate and U-catechol complexes.

CONCLUSION

Results on the potential energy differences between U(V)- and U(IV)-carbonate complexes suggest that the cause of slower disproportionation in this system is electrostatic repulsion between UO2 [CO3]3(5-) ions that must approach one another to form U(VI) and U(IV) rather than a change in thermodynamic stability. Calculations on U-catechol species are consistent with the observation that UO2(2+) can oxidize catechol and form quinone-like species. In addition, outer-sphere complexation is predicted to be the most stable for U-catechol interactions based on calculated energies and comparison to 13C NMR spectra. Outer-sphere complexes (i.e., ion pairs bridged by water molecules) are predicted to be comparable in Gibbs free energy to inner-sphere complexes for a model carboxylic acid. Complexation of uranyl to phosphorus-containing groups in extracellular polymeric substances is predicted to favor phosphonate groups, such as that found in phosphorylated NAG, rather than phosphodiesters, such as those in nucleic acids.

Biogeochemical changes induced in uranium mining waste pile samples by uranyl nitrate treatments under anaerobic conditions

Response of the subsurface soil bacterial community of a uranium mining waste pile to treatments with uranyl nitrate over different periods of time was studied under anaerobic conditions. The fate of the added U(VI) without supplementation with electron donors was investigated as well. By using 16S rRNA gene retrieval, we demonstrated that incubation with uranyl nitrate for 4 weeks resulted in a strong reduction in and even disappearance of some of the most predominant bacterial groups of the original sample. Instead, a strong proliferation of denitrifying and uranium-resistant populations of Rahnella spp. from Gammaproteobacteria and of Firmicutes occurred. After longer incubations for 14 weeks with uranyl nitrate, bacterial diversity increased and populations intrinsic to the untreated samples such as Bacteroidetes and Deltaproteobacteria propagated and replaced the above-mentioned uranium-resistant groups. This indicated that U(VI) was immobilized. Mössbauer spectroscopic analysis revealed an increased Fe(III) reduction by increasing the incubation time from four to 14 weeks. This result signified that Fe(III) was used as an electron acceptor by the bacterial community established at the later stages of the treatment. X-ray absorption spectroscopic analysis demonstrated that no detectable amounts of U(VI) were reduced to U(IV) in the time frames of the performed experiments. The reason for this observation is possibly due to the low level of electron donors in the studied oligotrophic environment. Time-resolved laser-induced fluorescence spectroscopic analysis demonstrated that most of the added U(VI) was bound by organic or inorganic phosphate phases both of biotic origin.

Complexation of uranium(VI) with peptidoglycan

We investigated the interaction of UO(2)(2+) with peptidoglycan (PG), the main part of the outer membrane of Gram-positive bacteria, by potentiometric titration and time-resolved laser-induced fluorescence spectroscopy (TRLFS) over a wide pH (2.0 to 9.0) and concentration range (10(-5) to 10(-4) M U(vi), 0.01 to 0.2 g L(-1) PG). With potentiometry two different dissociation constants for the carboxyl sites of glutamic acid and diaminopimelic acid (pK(a) = 4.55 +/- 0.02 and 6.31 +/- 0.01), and one averaged pK(a) for hydroxyl and amino groups (which are not distinguishable) (9.56 +/- 0.03) and the site densities could be identified. With potentiometry three different uranyl PG complexes were ascertained: two 1 : 1 uranyl carboxyl complexes R-COO-UO(2)(+), one with the glutamic acid carboxyl group (log beta(110) = 4.02 +/- 0.03), which has a very small formation ratio, and one with the diaminopimelic acid carboxyl group (log beta(110) = 7.28 +/- 0.03), and a mixed 1 : 1 : 1 complex with additional hydroxyl or amino coordination, R-COO-UO(2)((+))-A(i)-R (A(i) = NH(2) or O(-)) (log beta(1110) = 14.95 +/- 0.02). With TRLFS, also three, but different, species could be identified: a 1 : 1 uranyl carboxyl complex R-COO-UO(2)(+) (log beta(110) = 6.9 +/- 0.2), additionally a 1 : 2 uranyl carboxyl complex (R-COO)(2)-UO(2) (log beta(120) = 12.1 +/- 0.2), both with diaminopimelic acid carboxyl groups, and the mixed species R-COO-UO(2)((+))-A(i)-R (A(i) = NH(2) or O(-)) (log beta(1110) = 14.5 +/- 0.1). The results are in accordance within the errors of determination.

Bacterial interactions with uranium: an environmental perspective

The presence of actinides in radioactive wastes is of major concern because of their potential for migration from the waste repositories and long-term contamination of the environment. Studies have been and are being made on inorganic processes affecting the migration of radionuclides from these repositories to the environment but it is becoming increasingly evident that microbial processes are of importance as well. Bacteria interact with uranium through different mechanisms including, biosorption at the cell surface, intracellular accumulation, precipitation, and redox transformations (oxidation/reduction). The present study is intended to give a brief overview of the key processes responsible for the interaction of actinides e.g. uranium with bacterial strains isolated from different extreme environments relevant to radioactive repositories. Fundamental understanding of the interaction of these bacteria with U will be useful for developing appropriate radioactive waste treatments, remediation and long-term management strategies as well as for predicting the microbial impacts on the performance of the radioactive waste repositories.

Speciation of uranium in sediments before and after in situ biostimulation

The success of sequestration-based remediation strategies will depend on detailed information, including the predominant U species present as sources before biostimulation and the products produced during and after in situ biostimulation. We used X-ray absorption spectroscopy to determine the valence state and chemical speciation of U in sediment samples collected at a variety of depths through the contaminant plume at the Field Research Center at Oak Ridge, TN, before and after approximately 400 days of in situ biostimulation, as well as in duplicate bioreduced sediments after 363 days of resting conditions. The results indicate that U(VI) in subsurface sediments was partially reduced to 10-40% U(IV) during biostimulation. After biostimulation, U was no longer bound to carbon ligands and was adsorbed to Fe/Mn minerals. Reduction of U(VI) to U(IV) continued in sediment samples stored under anaerobic condition at < 4 degrees C for 12 months, with the fraction of U(IV) in sediments more than doubling and U concentrations in the aqueous phase decreasing from 0.5-0.74 to < 0.1 microM. A shift of uranyl species from uranyl bound to phosphorus ligands to uranyl bound to carbon ligands and the formation of nanoparticulate uraninite occurred in the sediment samples during storage.

Interactions of uranium with polyphosphate

Inorganic polyphosphates (PolyP) are simple linear phosphate (PO(4)(3-)) polymers which are produced by a variety of microorganisms. One of their functions is to complex metals resulting in their precipitation. We investigated the interaction of phosphate and low-molecular-weight PolyP (1400-1900Da) with uranyl ion at various pHs. Potentiometric titration of uranyl ion in the presence of phosphate showed two sharp inflection points at pHs 4 and 8 due to uranium hydrolysis reaction and interaction with phosphate. Titration of uranyl ion and PolyP revealed a broad inflection point starting at pH 4 indicating that complexation of U-PolyP occurs over a wide range of pHs with no uranium hydrolysis. EXAFS analysis of the U-HPO(4) complex revealed that an insoluble uranyl phosphate species was formed below pH 6; at higher pH (> or = 8) uranium formed a precipitate consisting of hydroxophosphato species. In contrast, adding uranyl ion to PolyP resulted in formation of U-PolyP complex over the entire pH range studied. At low pH (< or = 6) an insoluble U-PolyP complex having a monodentate coordination of phosphate with uranium was observed. Above pH 6 however, a soluble bidentate complex with phosphate and uranium was predominant. These results show that the complexation and solubility of uranium with PO(4) and PolyP are dependent upon pH.

Chemical speciation and association of plutonium with bacteria, kaolinite clay, and their mixture

We investigated the interactions of Pu(VI) with Bacillus subtilis, kaolinite clay, and a mixture of the two to determine and delineate the role of the microbes in regulating the environmental mobility of Pu. The bacteria, the kaolinite, and their mixture were exposed to a 4 x 10(-4) M Pu(VI) solution at pH 5.0. The amount of Pu sorbed by B. subtilis increased with time, but had not reached equilibrium in 48 h, whereas equilibrium was attained in kaolinite within 8 h. After 48 h, the oxidation state of Pu in the solutions exposed to B. subtilis and the mixture had changed to Pu-(V), whereas the oxidation state of Pu associated with B. subtilis and the mixture was Pu(IV). Exudates released from B. subtilis reduced Pu(VI) to Pu(V). In contrast, there was no change in the oxidation state of Pu in the solution or on kaolinite after exposure to Pu(VI). Scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive spectrometry analysis indicated that most of the Pu in the mixture was associated with B. subtilis. These results suggest that Pu-(IV) is preferably sorbed to bacterial cells in the mixture and that Pu(VI) is reduced to Pu(V) and Pu(IV).

Microbacterium isolates from the vicinity of a radioactive waste depository and their interactions with uranium

Three oligotrophic bacterial strains were cultured from the ground water of the deep-well monitoring site S15 of the Siberian radioactive waste depository Tomsk-7, Russia. They were affiliated with Actinobacteria from the genus Microbacterium. The almost fully sequenced 16S rRNA genes of two of the isolates, S15-M2 and S15-M5, were identical to those of cultured representatives of the species Microbacterium oxydans. The third isolate, S15-M4, shared 99.8% of 16S rRNA gene identity with them. The latter isolate possessed a distinct cell morphology as well as carbon source utilization pattern from the M. oxydans strains S15-M2 and S15-M5. The three isolates tolerated equal amounts of uranium, lead, copper, silver and chromium but they differed in their tolerance of cadmium and nickel. The cells of all three strains accumulated high amounts of uranium, i.e. up to 240 mg U (g dry biomass)(-1) in the case of M. oxydans S15-M2. X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) analysis showed that this strain precipitated U(VI) at pH 4.5 as a meta-autunite-like phase. At pH 2, the uranium formed complexes with organically bound phosphate groups on the cell surface. The results of the XAS studies were consistent with those obtained by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX).

Complexation of uranium by cells and S-layer sheets of Bacillus sphaericus JG-A12

Bacillus sphaericus JG-A12 is a natural isolate recovered from a uranium mining waste pile near the town of Johanngeorgenstadt in Saxony, Germany. The cells of this strain are enveloped by a highly ordered crystalline proteinaceous surface layer (S-layer) possessing an ability to bind uranium and other heavy metals. Purified and recrystallized S-layer proteins were shown to be phosphorylated by phosphoprotein-specific staining, inductive coupled plasma mass spectrometry analysis, and a colorimetric method. We used extended X-ray absorption fine-structure (EXAFS) spectroscopy to determine the structural parameters of the uranium complexes formed by purified and recrystallized S-layer sheets of B. sphaericus JG-A12. In addition, we investigated the complexation of uranium by the vegetative bacterial cells. The EXAFS analysis demonstrated that in all samples studied, the U(VI) is coordinated to carboxyl groups in a bidentate fashion with an average distance between the U atom and the C atom of 2.88 +/- 0.02 A and to phosphate groups in a monodentate fashion with an average distance between the U atom and the P atom of 3.62 +/- 0.02 A. Transmission electron microscopy showed that the uranium accumulated by the cells of this strain is located in dense deposits at the cell surface.