1
|
Williamson AJ, Binet M, Sergeant C. Radionuclide biogeochemistry: from bioremediation toward the treatment of aqueous radioactive effluents. Crit Rev Biotechnol 2024; 44:698-716. [PMID: 37258417 DOI: 10.1080/07388551.2023.2194505] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2021] [Revised: 10/07/2022] [Accepted: 01/29/2023] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
Civilian and military nuclear programs of several nations over more than 70 years have led to significant quantities of heterogenous solid, organic, and aqueous radioactive wastes bearing actinides, fission products, and activation products. While many physicochemical treatments have been developed to remediate, decontaminate and reduce waste volumes, they can involve high costs (energy input, expensive sorbants, ion exchange resins, chemical reducing/precipitation agents) or can lead to further secondary waste forms. Microorganisms can directly influence radionuclide solubility, via sorption, accumulation, precipitation, redox, and volatilization pathways, thus offering a more sustainable approach to remediation or effluent treatments. Much work to date has focused on fundamentals or laboratory-scale remediation trials, but there is a paucity of information toward field-scale bioremediation and, to a lesser extent, toward biological liquid effluent treatments. From the few biostimulation studies that have been conducted at legacy weapon production/test sites and uranium mining and milling sites, some marked success via bioreduction and biomineralisation has been observed. However, rebounding of radionuclide mobility from (a)biotic scale-up factors are often encountered. Radionuclide, heavy metal, co-contaminant, and/or matrix effects provide more challenging conditions than traditional industrial wastewater systems, thus innovative solutions via indirect interactions with stable element biogeochemical cycles, natural or engineered cultures or communities of metal and irradiation tolerant strains and reactor design inspirations from existing metal wastewater technologies, are required. This review encompasses the current state of the art in radionuclide biogeochemistry fundamentals and bioremediation and establishes links toward transitioning these concepts toward future radioactive effluent treatments.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Marie Binet
- EDF R&D, LNHE (Laboratoire National d'Hydraulique et Environnement), Chatou, France
| | | |
Collapse
|
2
|
Kinsela AS, Payne TE, Bligh MW, Vázquez-Campos X, Wilkins MR, Comarmond MJ, Rowling B, Waite TD. Contaminant release, mixing and microbial fluctuations initiated by infiltrating water within a replica field-scale legacy radioactive waste trench. Sci Total Environ 2022; 851:158241. [PMID: 36007652 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.158241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2022] [Revised: 08/14/2022] [Accepted: 08/19/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Numerous legacy near-surface radioactive waste sites dating from the mid 20th century have yet to be remediated and present a global contamination concern. Typically, there is insufficient understanding of contaminant release and redistribution, with invasive investigations often impractical due to the risk of disturbing the often significantly radiotoxic contaminants. Consequently, a replica waste trench (~5.4 m3), constructed adjacent to a legacy radioactive waste site (Little Forest Legacy Site, LFLS), was used to assist our understanding of the release and mixing processes of neodymium (Nd) - a chemical analogue for plutonium(III) and americium(III), two significant radionuclides in many contaminated environments. In order to clarify the behaviour of contaminants released from buried objects such as waste containers, a steel drum, representative of the hundreds of buried drums within the LFLS, was placed within the trench. Dissolved neodymium nitrate was introduced as a point-source contaminant to the base of the trench, outside the steel drum. Hydrologic conditions were manipulated to simulate natural rainfall intensities with dissolved lithium bromide added as a tracer. Neodymium was primarily retained both at its point of release at the bottom of the trench (>97 %) as well as at a steel container corrosion point, simulated through the emplacement of steel wool. However, over the 8-month field experiment, advective mixing initiated by surface water intrusions rapidly redistributed a small proportion of Nd to shallower waters (~1.5-1.7 %), as well as throughout the buried steel drum. Suspended particulate forms of Nd (>0.2 μm) were measured at all depths in the suboxic trench and were persistent across the entire study. Analyses of the microbial communities showed that their relative abundances and metabolic functions were strongly influenced by the prevailing geochemical conditions as a result of fluctuating water depths associated with rainfall events. The site representing steel corrosion exhibited divergent biogeochemical results with anomalous changes (sharp decrease) observed in both dissolved contaminant concentration as well as microbial diversity and functionality. This research demonstrates that experimental trenches provide a safe and unique method for simulating the behaviour of subsurface radioactive contaminants with results demonstrating the initial retention, partial shallow water redistribution, and stability of particulate form(s) of this radioactive analogue. These results have relevance for appropriate management and remediation strategies for the adjacent legacy site as well as for similar sites across the globe.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Andrew S Kinsela
- UNSW Water Research Centre and School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Timothy E Payne
- Environmental Research Theme, Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation, Locked Bag 2001, Kirrawee DC, NSW 2232, Australia
| | - Mark W Bligh
- UNSW Water Research Centre and School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Xabier Vázquez-Campos
- NSW Systems Biology Initiative, School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Marc R Wilkins
- NSW Systems Biology Initiative, School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - M Josick Comarmond
- Environmental Research Theme, Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation, Locked Bag 2001, Kirrawee DC, NSW 2232, Australia
| | - Brett Rowling
- Environmental Research Theme, Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation, Locked Bag 2001, Kirrawee DC, NSW 2232, Australia
| | - T David Waite
- UNSW Water Research Centre and School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Lukashenko SN, Edomskaya MA. Plutonium in the Environment: Sources, Dissemination Mechanisms, and Concentrations. BIOL BULL+ 2022. [DOI: 10.1134/s1062359022110139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/16/2023]
|
4
|
Kazakevičiūtė-Jakučiūnienė L, Tarasiuk N, Maceika E, Druteikienė R, Ežerinskis Ž, Šapolaitė J, Žukauskaitė Z, Gvozdaitė R. Analysis of the vertical distribution of 137Cs and 239,240Pu in waterlogged and non-boggy soils by the sequential extraction method. J Environ Radioact 2022; 253-254:106990. [PMID: 36049342 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2022.106990] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2022] [Revised: 08/16/2022] [Accepted: 08/18/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Mobile capabilities of 137Cs, 239,240Pu and some stable element physicochemical forms were studied in soil layers at a depth of 6-8 cm (maximum concentrations of radionuclides) of non-boggy and waterlogged soil cores sampled on the shores of Lake Bedugnis (Lithuania). Soil samples were acidic with small amount of clay (muscovite). The radionuclide activity concentrations were about 2.5 times higher in non-boggy soil. It was explained by different conditions of deposition of radioactive fallout at these sampling sites and density of the soil samples. The value of the exchangeable fraction of radionuclides is shown to be an indicator of their migration capabilities in the soil. Under anaerobic conditions in waterlogged soil (stagnant pore water conditions) and due to the presence of clay admixture, ∼90% of 137Cs was concentrated in the residual fraction and its mobility was low. 239,240Pu was concentrated mainly in organic matter with rather large exchangeable fractions (∼9.6-∼13.9%). Under oxidizing conditions in non-boggy soil (dynamic pore water conditions in the case of rain), 239,240Pu was mostly concentrated in the oxide fraction. Its exchangeable fractions were less than those in waterlogged soil and, respectively, its mobility was lower. In non-boggy soils, exchangeable fractions of 137Cs were large and varied in the range of 10.1-12.2%, which indicated its high mobility. In the case, 137Cs adsorption by clay materials was reduced and its residual fraction did not exceed 71.3%. The obtained data show that in the area of Lake Bedugnis, the migration capabilities of 137Cs and 239,240Pu change in antiphase.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Nikolaj Tarasiuk
- State Research Institute Centre for Physical and Technological Sciences, Savanoriu av. 231, LT-02300, Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Evaldas Maceika
- State Research Institute Centre for Physical and Technological Sciences, Savanoriu av. 231, LT-02300, Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Rūta Druteikienė
- State Research Institute Centre for Physical and Technological Sciences, Savanoriu av. 231, LT-02300, Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Žilvinas Ežerinskis
- State Research Institute Centre for Physical and Technological Sciences, Savanoriu av. 231, LT-02300, Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Justina Šapolaitė
- State Research Institute Centre for Physical and Technological Sciences, Savanoriu av. 231, LT-02300, Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Zita Žukauskaitė
- State Research Institute Centre for Physical and Technological Sciences, Savanoriu av. 231, LT-02300, Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Rasa Gvozdaitė
- State Research Institute Centre for Physical and Technological Sciences, Savanoriu av. 231, LT-02300, Vilnius, Lithuania
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Cook M, Kleinschmidt R, Brugger J, Wong VNL. Transport and migration of plutonium in different soil types and rainfall regimes. J Environ Radioact 2022; 248:106883. [PMID: 35468420 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2022.106883] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2021] [Revised: 03/25/2022] [Accepted: 03/28/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Leaching and transport of contaminants is a complex interacting system affected by a suite of environmental factors. This study demonstrates the potential significance of weather events and moisture movement when interpreting plutonium (Pu) migration and advective transport in the soil matrix. Using a column transport experiment, two soil types, a sandy soil and clay-rich soil, were spiked with 238Pu as a tracer to observe the effect of simulated tropical and arid rainfall events on Pu mobility. Partition coefficients (Kd) were determined over a period of weeks and under varying rainfall rates to establish the impact of changing weather events on Pu mobility. The variability of these temporal Kds covers six orders of magnitude over a relatively brief time period. This demonstrates the necessity for non-static Kds to accurately describe Pu transport in these systems. The Pu Kds determined by these column transport experiments fall within the bounds of anticipated values (approximately 80-300,000 mL g-1) from immobile (magnitude 106 mL g-1) to moderately mobile (magnitude 101 mL g-1). The overall transport rate, shown by a decrease in calculated Kd, increases in environments where rainfall is more episodic, such as in arid regions as opposed to the consistently abundant rainfall in tropical regions. In contrast to the 238Pu spike, 239+240Pu resulting from contamination from nuclear tests in the sandy soil (aged for >30 years) showed higher mobility; we hypothesise that the ageing of the contamination, in particular Pu-bearing particles, accounts for this significant increase in Pu mobility. Low intensity, high frequency events in tropical sandy soil systems containing Pu particle contamination have the potential to mobilise Pu (>105 decrease in calculated Kd) over shorter periods of weeks, and not years as previously assumed. This increased mobility, when applied to radioecological models using Kd as a site-specific parameter, shows that there is likely to be a continued impact (risk quotient >1) on non-human biota in tropical sandy soil ecosystems.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Megan Cook
- School of Earth, Atmosphere & Environment, Monash University, Australia.
| | - Ross Kleinschmidt
- Epic Environmental, PO Box 13058, Brisbane Queensland, 4003, Australia
| | - Joël Brugger
- School of Earth, Atmosphere & Environment, Monash University, Australia
| | - Vanessa N L Wong
- School of Earth, Atmosphere & Environment, Monash University, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Choudhury S, Chatterjee A. Microbial application in remediation of heavy metals: an overview. Arch Microbiol 2022; 204:268. [PMID: 35438381 DOI: 10.1007/s00203-022-02874-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2021] [Revised: 03/09/2022] [Accepted: 03/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Heavy metal contamination poses a menacing threat to all living forms in the natural world due to its catastrophic consequences, contributing to environmental pollution. The need for human beings increasing each day along with anthropological activity is contributing directly to the destruction of the environment with the release of a large number of heavy metals into the food chain. These metals can be accumulated in the food chains and are very extremely toxic even at low concentrations. Heavy metals aggregation can deteriorate the healthy ecosystem of the water bodies as well. One of the major concerns is the diminution and administration of the heavy metals aggregating in marine water bodies and lakes. Heavy metals are not degradable and thus tend to remain in the environment for a prolonged time period. Heavy metal aggregation can demonstrate immediate repercussions such as DNA damage, inhibition of respiration and photosynthesis, and rapid reactive oxygen species generation. Conventional or standard chemical and physical methods for remediation of heavy metals are uneconomical and lead to the production of a large magnitude of chemical waste. This shifts the focus and interest towards the utilization of microbes in remediation of heavy metals from the environment which is eco-friendly and economical. To contend with heavy metals, microorganisms have a specific mechanism such as biotransformation, biosorption, and homeostasis. The microbial system is responsive to the toxicity that is created by the heavy metals which are easily water-soluble and available in the environment. The current review article describes the sources and effects of metal ions in the environment followed by bioremediation strategies followed in their remediation. Microbial approaches in remediation of metal ions from extraterrestrial materials are depicted in the paper.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Saddique Choudhury
- Department of Pharmacology, JSS Medical College, Mysuru, Karnataka, India
| | - Ankita Chatterjee
- Department of Biotechnology, School of Applied Sciences, REVA University, Bangalore, Karnataka, India.
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Shin HD, Toporek Y, Mok JK, Maekawa R, Lee BD, Howard MH, DiChristina TJ. Iodate Reduction by Shewanella oneidensis Requires Genes Encoding an Extracellular Dimethylsulfoxide Reductase. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:852942. [PMID: 35495678 PMCID: PMC9048795 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.852942] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2022] [Accepted: 03/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Microbial iodate (IO3 -) reduction is a major component of the iodine biogeochemical reaction network in anaerobic marine basins and radioactive iodine-contaminated subsurface environments. Alternative iodine remediation technologies include microbial reduction of IO3 - to iodide (I-) and microbial methylation of I- to volatile gases. The metal reduction pathway is required for anaerobic IO3 - respiration by the gammaproteobacterium Shewanella oneidensis. However, the terminal IO3 - reductase and additional enzymes involved in the S. oneidensis IO3 - electron transport chain have not yet been identified. In this study, gene deletion mutants deficient in four extracellular electron conduits (EECs; ΔmtrA, ΔmtrA-ΔmtrDEF, ΔmtrA-ΔdmsEF, ΔmtrA-ΔSO4360) and DMSO reductase (ΔdmsB) of S. oneidensis were constructed and examined for anaerobic IO3 - reduction activity with either 20 mM lactate or formate as an electron donor. IO3 - reduction rate experiments were conducted under anaerobic conditions in defined minimal medium amended with 250 μM IO3 - as anaerobic electron acceptor. Only the ΔmtrA mutant displayed a severe deficiency in IO3 - reduction activity with lactate as the electron donor, which suggested that the EEC-associated decaheme cytochrome was required for lactate-dependent IO3 - reduction. The ΔmtrA-ΔdmsEF triple mutant displayed a severe deficiency in IO3 - reduction activity with formate as the electron donor, whereas ΔmtrA-ΔmtrDEF and ΔmtrA-ΔSO4360 retained moderate IO3 - reduction activity, which suggested that the EEC-associated dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) reductase membrane-spanning protein DmsE, but not MtrA, was required for formate-dependent IO3 - reduction. Furthermore, gene deletion mutant ΔdmsB (deficient in the extracellular terminal DMSO reductase protein DmsB) and wild-type cells grown with tungsten replacing molybdenum (a required co-factor for DmsA catalytic activity) in defined growth medium were unable to reduce IO3 - with either lactate or formate as the electron donor, which indicated that the DmsAB complex functions as an extracellular IO3 - terminal reductase for both electron donors. Results of this study provide complementary genetic and phenotypic evidence that the extracellular DMSO reductase complex DmsAB of S. oneidensis displays broad substrate specificity and reduces IO3 - as an alternate terminal electron acceptor.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hyun-Dong Shin
- Georgia Institute of Technology, School of Biological Sciences, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Yael Toporek
- Georgia Institute of Technology, School of Biological Sciences, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Jung Kee Mok
- Georgia Institute of Technology, School of Biological Sciences, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Ruri Maekawa
- School of Materials, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Osaka Prefecture University, Sakai, Japan
| | - Brady D. Lee
- Savannah River National Laboratory, Environmental Sciences Section, Aiken, SC, United States
| | - M. Hope Howard
- Savannah River National Laboratory, Environmental Sciences Section, Aiken, SC, United States
| | - Thomas J. DiChristina
- Georgia Institute of Technology, School of Biological Sciences, Atlanta, GA, United States
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Février L, Coppin F, Pierrisnard S, Bourdillon M, Nguyen LV, Zaiter N, Brandès S, Sladkov V, Chambron JC, Meyer M. Efficiency of dihydroxamic and trihydroxamic siderochelates to extract uranium and plutonium from contaminated soils. J Environ Radioact 2021; 235-236:106645. [PMID: 34020181 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2021.106645] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2021] [Revised: 04/30/2021] [Accepted: 05/05/2021] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
Actinide-based mineral phases occurring in contaminated soils can be solubilized by organic chelators excreted by plants, such as citrate. Herein, the efficiency of citrate towards U and Pu extraction is compared to that of siderophores, whose primary function is the acquisition of iron(III) as an essential nutrient and growth factor for many soil microorganisms. To that end, we selected desferrioxamine B (DFB) as an emblematic bacterial trishydroxamic siderophore and a synthetic analog, abbreviated (LCy,Pr)H2, of the tetradentate rhodotorulic acid (RA) produced by yeasts. Firstly, the uranyl speciation with both ligands was assessed in the pH range 2-11 by potentiometry and visible absorption spectrophotometry. Equilibrium constants and absorption spectra for three [UO2(DFB)Hh](h-1)+ (h = 1-3) and five [UO2(LCy,Pr)lHh](2+h-2l)+ (-1 ≤ h ≤ 1 for l = 1 and h = 0-1 for l = 2) solution complexes were determined at 25.0 °C and I = 0.1 M KNO3. Similar studies for the Fe3+/(LCy,Pr)2- system revealed the formation of five species having [Fe(LCy,Pr)]+, [Fe(LCy,Pr)OH], [Fe(LCy,Pr)(OH)2]-, [Fe(LCy,Pr)2H], and [Fe2(LCy,Pr)3] compositions. Then, the ability of DFB, (LCy,Pr)H2, and citrate to solubilize either U or Pu from pitchblende-rich soils (soils 1 and 2) or freshly plutonium-contaminated soils (LBS and PG) was evaluated by performing batch extraction tests. U was extracted significantly only by citrate after a day. After one week, the amount of U complexed by citrate only slightly exceeded that measured for the siderochelates, following the order citrate > (LCy,Pr)H2 ≥ DFB ≈ H2O, and were comparatively very low. Pu was also more efficiently extracted by citrate than by DFB after a day, but only by a factor of ~2-3 for the PG soil, while the Pu concentration in the supernatant after one week was approximately the same for both natural chelators. It remained nearly constant for DFB between the 1st and 7th day, but drastically decreased in the case of citrate, suggesting chemical decomposition in the latter case. For the Fe-rich soils 1 and 2, the efficiencies of the three chelators to solubilize Fe after a day were of the same order of magnitude, decreasing in the order DFB > citrate > (LCy,Pr)H2. However, after a week DFB had extracted ~1.5 times more Fe, whereas the amount extracted by the other chelators stayed constant. For the less Fe-rich LBS and PG soils contaminated by Pu, the amounts of extracted Fe were higher, especially after 7 days, and the DFB outperformed citrate by a factor of nearly 3. The higher capacity of the hexadentate DFB to extract Pu in the presence of Fe and its lower ability to mobilize U qualitatively agree with the respective complexation constant ratios, keeping in mind that both Pu-containing soils had a lower iron loading. Noticeably, (LCy,Pr)H2 has roughly the same capacity as DFB to solubilize U, but it mobilizes less Fe than the hexadentate siderophore. Similarly, citrate has the highest capacity to extract Pu, but the lowest to extract Fe. Therefore, compared to DFB, (LCy,Pr)H2 shows a better U/Fe extraction selectivity and citrate shows a better Pu/Fe selectivity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Laureline Février
- Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire (IRSN), PSE-ENV/SRTE/LR2T, BP 3, 13115, Saint-Paul-Lez-Durance Cedex, France.
| | - Frédéric Coppin
- Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire (IRSN), PSE-ENV/SRTE/LR2T, BP 3, 13115, Saint-Paul-Lez-Durance Cedex, France
| | - Sylvie Pierrisnard
- Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire (IRSN), PSE-ENV/SRTE/LR2T, BP 3, 13115, Saint-Paul-Lez-Durance Cedex, France
| | - Mélanie Bourdillon
- Institut de Chimie Moléculaire de l'Université de Bourgogne (ICMUB), UMR 6302, CNRS, Université Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, 9 avenue Alain Savary, BP 47870, 21078, Dijon Cedex, France
| | - Lé Vi Nguyen
- Institut de Chimie Moléculaire de l'Université de Bourgogne (ICMUB), UMR 6302, CNRS, Université Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, 9 avenue Alain Savary, BP 47870, 21078, Dijon Cedex, France
| | - Nissrine Zaiter
- Institut de Chimie Moléculaire de l'Université de Bourgogne (ICMUB), UMR 6302, CNRS, Université Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, 9 avenue Alain Savary, BP 47870, 21078, Dijon Cedex, France
| | - Stéphane Brandès
- Institut de Chimie Moléculaire de l'Université de Bourgogne (ICMUB), UMR 6302, CNRS, Université Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, 9 avenue Alain Savary, BP 47870, 21078, Dijon Cedex, France
| | - Vladimir Sladkov
- Laboratoire de Physique des 2 Infinis Irène Joliot Curie (IJCLab), UMR 9012, CNRS/IN2P3 Université Paris-Saclay, Université de Paris, 15 rue Georges Clemenceau, 91405, Orsay, France
| | - Jean-Claude Chambron
- Institut de Chimie de Strasbourg, UMR 7177, CNRS, Université de Strasbourg, 1 rue Blaise Pascal, BP 296 R 8, 67008, Strasbourg Cedex, France
| | - Michel Meyer
- Institut de Chimie Moléculaire de l'Université de Bourgogne (ICMUB), UMR 6302, CNRS, Université Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, 9 avenue Alain Savary, BP 47870, 21078, Dijon Cedex, France.
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Zhao X, Qiao J, Hou X. Plutonium isotopes in Northern Xinjiang, China: Level, distribution, sources and their contributions. Environ Pollut 2020; 265:114929. [PMID: 32540598 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2020.114929] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2020] [Revised: 05/31/2020] [Accepted: 05/31/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Plutonium in the environment has drawn significant attentions due to its radiotoxicity in high concentration and source term linked with nuclear accidents and contaminations. The isotopic ratio of plutonium is source dependent and can be used as a fingerprint to discriminate the sources of radioactive contaminant. 239Pu, 240Pu and 137Cs in surface soil and soil cores collected from Northern Xinjiang were determined in this work. The concentrations of 239,240Pu and 137Cs are in the range of 0.06-1.20 Bq kg-1, and <1.0-31.4 Bq kg-1 (decay corrected to Sep. 2017), respectively, falling in the ranges of global fallout in this latitude zone. The 240Pu/239Pu atomic ratios of 0.118-0.209 and 239,240Pu/137Cs activity ratios of 0.039-0.215 were measured. Among the investigated sites, distinctly lower 240Pu/239Pu atomic ratios of 0.118-0.133 and higher 239,240Pu/137Cs activity ratios of 0.065-0.215 compared to the global fallout values were observed in the northwest part, indicating a significant contribution from other source besides the global fallout. This extra source is mainly attributed to the releases of atmospheric nuclear weapons testing at Semipalatinsk Nuclear Test Site, which was transported by the west and northwest wind through the river valley among mountains in this region. This contribution is estimated to account for 28-43% of the global fallout in the northwest part of Northern Xinjiang. The contribution from the Chinese atmospheric nuclear weapons testing to this region is negligible due to the lack of appropriate wind direction to transport the radioactive releases to this region.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xue Zhao
- Technical University of Denmark, Department of Environmental Engineering, Risø Campus, Roskilde, 4000, Denmark; State Key Laboratory of Loess and Quaternary Geology, Xi'an AMS Center, Institute of Earth Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Accelerator Mass Spectrometry Technology and Application, Xi'an, 710061, PR China
| | - Jixin Qiao
- Technical University of Denmark, Department of Environmental Engineering, Risø Campus, Roskilde, 4000, Denmark
| | - Xiaolin Hou
- Technical University of Denmark, Department of Environmental Engineering, Risø Campus, Roskilde, 4000, Denmark; State Key Laboratory of Loess and Quaternary Geology, Xi'an AMS Center, Institute of Earth Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Accelerator Mass Spectrometry Technology and Application, Xi'an, 710061, PR China; CAS center of Excellence in Quaternary Science and Global Change, Xi'an, 710061, PR China; Open Studio for Oceanic-Continental Climate and Environment Changes, Pilot National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology (Qingdao), Qingdao, 266100, PR China.
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Salbu B, Lind OC. Analytical techniques for charactering radioactive particles deposited in the environment. J Environ Radioact 2020; 211:106078. [PMID: 31677430 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2019.106078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2019] [Revised: 10/13/2019] [Accepted: 10/13/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Since 1945, a series of nuclear and radiological sources have contributed to the release of radioactive particles containing refractory elements into the environment. Several years of research have demonstrated that the particle composition will depend on the source, while the release scenarios will influence particle properties of relevance for environmental transfer. Radioactive particles can also carry sufficient amount of radioactivity (MBq) and represent point sources of radiological concern. Most radiological assessment models, however, are based on bulk concentrations, assuming that radionuclides in the environment are evenly distributed. In contrast, radioactive particles and thereby doses are unevenly distributed, while leaching of radionuclides from particles prior to measurements can be partial, potentially leading to underestimation of inventories. For areas affected by particle contamination, information on particle characteristics controlling the particle weathering rates and remobilization of particle associated radionuclides will therefore be essential to reduce the overall uncertainties of the impact assessments. The present paper will focus on analytical strategies, from screening techniques applicable for identifying hot spots in the field, fractionation techniques and single particle extraction techniques as a preparatory mean to apply non-destructive solid state speciation techniques, till leaching techniques applied sequentially to obtain information on binding mechanisms, mobility and potential bioavailability. Thus, a combination of techniques should be utilized to characterize radioactive particles in order to improve environmental assessments for areas affected by radioactive particle fallout.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Brit Salbu
- CERAD CoE, Faculty of Environmental Sciences and nature Resource Management, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, 1432, Aas, Norway
| | - Ole Christian Lind
- CERAD CoE, Faculty of Environmental Sciences and nature Resource Management, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, 1432, Aas, Norway.
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Novikov AP, Vlasova IE, Safonov AV, Ermolaev VM, Zakharova EV, Kalmykov SN. Speciation of actinides in groundwater samples collected near deep nuclear waste repositories. J Environ Radioact 2018; 192:334-341. [PMID: 30031315 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2018.07.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2018] [Revised: 06/27/2018] [Accepted: 07/07/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Actinide binding to colloidal particles of different nature was studied under oxic and anoxic conditions of an underground nuclear waste disposal site using successive micro- and ultrafiltration techniques. According to the actinide redox speciation, under oxic conditions they were present in high oxidation states except for plutonium, for which a significant part was found in the tetravalent state. In case of the anoxic conditions, the share of An (IV) was proportional to the total U(IV) concentration. This indicated formation of intrinsic U(IV) hydroxocolloids, which bound other actinides. Formation of the intrinsic actinide colloids was proven by the secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) with the submicron resolution. In contrast, under the oxic conditions uranium and plutonium were sorbed by natural colloids (amorphous hydrous ferric oxide and Mn oxides).
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- A P Novikov
- Vernadsky Institute of Geochemistry and Analytical Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, 119991, Kosygina str. 19, Moscow, Russia
| | - I E Vlasova
- Radiochemistry Div, Chemical Dept, Lomonosov Moscow State University, 119991, Leninskie Gory 3, Moscow, Russia
| | - A V Safonov
- A.N. Frumkin Institute of Physical Chemistry and Electrochemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, 199071, 31, Leninsky Prospect, Moscow, Russia.
| | - V M Ermolaev
- A.N. Frumkin Institute of Physical Chemistry and Electrochemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, 199071, 31, Leninsky Prospect, Moscow, Russia
| | - E V Zakharova
- A.N. Frumkin Institute of Physical Chemistry and Electrochemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, 199071, 31, Leninsky Prospect, Moscow, Russia
| | - St N Kalmykov
- Vernadsky Institute of Geochemistry and Analytical Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, 119991, Kosygina str. 19, Moscow, Russia; Radiochemistry Div, Chemical Dept, Lomonosov Moscow State University, 119991, Leninskie Gory 3, Moscow, Russia
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Morrison KD, Jiao Y, Kersting AB, Zavarin M. Reduction of Plutonium(VI) to (V) by Hydroxamate Compounds at Environmentally Relevant pH. Environ Sci Technol 2018; 52:6448-6456. [PMID: 29767970 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.8b00164] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Natural organic matter is known to influence the mobility of plutonium (Pu) in the environment via complexation and reduction mechanisms. Hydroxamate siderophores have been specifically implicated due to their strong association with Pu. Hydroxamate siderophores can also break down into di and monohydroxamates and may influence the Pu oxidation state, and thereby its mobility. In this study we explored the reactions of Pu(VI) and Pu(V) with a monohydroxamate compound (acetohydroxamic acid, AHA) and a trihydroxamate siderophore desferrioxamine B (DFOB) at an environmentally relevant pH (5.5-8.2). Pu(VI) was instantaneously reduced to Pu(V) upon reaction with AHA. The presence of hydroxylamine was not observed at these pHs; however, AHA was consumed during the reaction. This suggests that the reduction of Pu(VI) to Pu(V) by AHA is facilitated by a direct one electron transfer. Importantly, further reduction to Pu(IV) or Pu(III) was not observed, even with excess AHA. We believe that further reduction of Pu(V) did not occur because Pu(V) does not form a strong complex with hydroxamate compounds at a circum-neutral pH. Experiments performed using desferrioxamine B (DFOB) yielded similar results. Broadly, this suggests that Pu(V) reduction to Pu(IV) in the presence of natural organic matter is not facilitated by hydroxamate functional groups and that other natural organic matter moieties likely play a more prominent role.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Keith D Morrison
- Biosciences and Biotechnology Division, Physical and Life Sciences Directorate, L-452 , Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory , Livermore , CA 94550 , United States
- Glenn T. Seaborg Institute, Physical and Life Sciences Directorate, L-231 , Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory , Livermore , CA 94550 , United States
| | - Yongqin Jiao
- Biosciences and Biotechnology Division, Physical and Life Sciences Directorate, L-452 , Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory , Livermore , CA 94550 , United States
| | - Annie B Kersting
- Director's Office, L-019 , Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory , Livermore , CA 94550 , United States
| | - Mavrik Zavarin
- Glenn T. Seaborg Institute, Physical and Life Sciences Directorate, L-231 , Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory , Livermore , CA 94550 , United States
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Kozai N, Sakamoto F, Tanaka K, Ohnuki T, Satoh T, Kamiya T, Grambow B. Complexation of Eu(III), Pb(II), and U(VI) with a Paramecium glycoprotein: Microbial transformation of heavy elements in the aquatic environment. Chemosphere 2018; 196:135-144. [PMID: 29294427 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2017.12.154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2017] [Revised: 12/18/2017] [Accepted: 12/22/2017] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
This study investigated the interaction of inorganic aqueous Eu(III), Pb(II), and U(VI) with Paramecium sp., a representative single-celled protozoan that lives in freshwater. Living and prekilled Paramecium cells were tested. The prekilled cells were killed with a fixative. After 24 h exposure of the cells to inorganic aqueous solutions containing Eu(III) or U(VI), analyses by microparticle-induced X-ray emission with a focused beam (<1 μm) did not detect Eu and U in the living cells, whereas Eu and U were detected in the prekilled cells. Size exclusion chromatography coupled with on-line ultraviolet-visible detection and elemental detection by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry of the aqueous phases collected after the living cell experiments revealed that a fraction of the Eu, Pb, and U in the aqueous phase bound to a large (ca. 250 kDa) Paramecium biomolecule and formed a metal-organic complex. The characteristics of the biomolecule were consistent with those of the soluble glycoproteins covering the surfaces of Paramecium cells. These results show that Paramecium cells transform inorganic aqueous Eu, Pb, and U to organic complexes. This paper discusses the relation between this novel complexation and the sorption of these heavy elements on Paramecium cells.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Naofumi Kozai
- Japan Atomic Energy Agency, Advanced Science Research Center, Tokai, Ibaraki, 319-1195, Japan.
| | - Fuminori Sakamoto
- Japan Atomic Energy Agency, Advanced Science Research Center, Tokai, Ibaraki, 319-1195, Japan
| | - Kazuya Tanaka
- Japan Atomic Energy Agency, Advanced Science Research Center, Tokai, Ibaraki, 319-1195, Japan
| | - Toshihiko Ohnuki
- Japan Atomic Energy Agency, Advanced Science Research Center, Tokai, Ibaraki, 319-1195, Japan; Tokyo Institute for Technology, Laboratory for Advanced Nuclear Energy, Tokyo, 152-855, Japan
| | - Takahiro Satoh
- National Institute for Quantum and Radiological Science and Technology, Takasaki Advanced Radiation Research Institute, Takasaki, Gunma, 370-1292, Japan
| | - Tomihiro Kamiya
- National Institute for Quantum and Radiological Science and Technology, Takasaki Advanced Radiation Research Institute, Takasaki, Gunma, 370-1292, Japan
| | - Bernd Grambow
- Japan Atomic Energy Agency, Advanced Science Research Center, Tokai, Ibaraki, 319-1195, Japan; SUBATECH, Mines Nantes, University of Nantes, CNRS-IN2P3, Nantes, France
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Gupta DK, Tawussi F, Hölzer A, Hamann L, Walther C. Investigation of low-level 242Pu contamination on nutrition disturbance and oxidative stress in Solanum tuberosum L. Environ Sci Pollut Res Int 2017; 24:16050-16061. [PMID: 28537023 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-017-9071-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2017] [Accepted: 04/20/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Plutonium associated with higher molecular weight molecules is presumed to be poorly mobile and hardly plant available. In our present study, we investigate the uptake and effects of Pu treatments on Solanum tuberosum plants in amended Hoagland medium at concentrations of [242Pu] = 100 and 500 nm, respectively. We found a direct proof of oxidative stress in the plants caused by these rather low concentrations. For the confirmation of oxidative stress, we explored the production of nitric oxide (NO) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) by epifluorescence microscopy. Oxidative stress markers like lipid peroxidation and superoxide radicals (O2•-) are monitored through histochemical analysis. The biochemical parameters i.e. chlorophyll and carotenoids are measured as an indicator of cellular damage in the tested plants including the enzymatic parameters such as catalase and glutathione reductase. From our work, we conclude that Pu in low concentration has no significant effects on the uptake of many trace and macroelements. In contrast, the content of O2•- , malondialdehyde (MDA), and H2O2 increases with increasing Pu concentration in the solution, while the opposite effects was found for NO, catalase, and glutathione reductase. These findings prove that even low concentration of Pu regulates ROS production and generate oxidative stress in S. tuberosum L.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Dharmendra K Gupta
- Institut für Radioökologie und Strahlenschutz (IRS), Leibniz Universität Hannover, Herrenhäuser Straße 2, 30419, Hannover, Germany.
| | - Frank Tawussi
- Institut für Radioökologie und Strahlenschutz (IRS), Leibniz Universität Hannover, Herrenhäuser Straße 2, 30419, Hannover, Germany
| | - Alex Hölzer
- Institut für Radioökologie und Strahlenschutz (IRS), Leibniz Universität Hannover, Herrenhäuser Straße 2, 30419, Hannover, Germany
| | - Linda Hamann
- Institut für Radioökologie und Strahlenschutz (IRS), Leibniz Universität Hannover, Herrenhäuser Straße 2, 30419, Hannover, Germany
| | - Clemens Walther
- Institut für Radioökologie und Strahlenschutz (IRS), Leibniz Universität Hannover, Herrenhäuser Straße 2, 30419, Hannover, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Moll H, Cherkouk A, Bok F, Bernhard G. Plutonium interaction studies with the Mont Terri Opalinus Clay isolate Sporomusa sp. MT-2.99: changes in the plutonium speciation by solvent extractions. Environ Sci Pollut Res Int 2017; 24:13497-13508. [PMID: 28390020 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-017-8969-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2016] [Accepted: 03/30/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Since plutonium could be released from nuclear waste disposal sites, the exploration of the complex interaction processes between plutonium and bacteria is necessary for an improved understanding of the fate of plutonium in the vicinity of such a nuclear waste disposal site. In this basic study, the interaction of plutonium with cells of the bacterium, Sporomusa sp. MT-2.99, isolated from Mont Terri Opalinus Clay, was investigated anaerobically (in 0.1 M NaClO4) with or without adding Na-pyruvate as an electron donor. The cells displayed a strong pH-dependent affinity for Pu. In the absence of Na-pyruvate, a strong enrichment of stable Pu(V) in the supernatants was discovered, whereas Pu(IV) polymers dominated the Pu oxidation state distribution on the biomass at pH 6.1. A pH-dependent enrichment of the lower Pu oxidation states (e.g., Pu(III) at pH 6.1 which is considered to be more mobile than Pu(IV) formed at pH 4) was observed in the presence of up to 10 mM Na-pyruvate. In all cases, the presence of bacterial cells enhanced removal of Pu from solution and accelerated Pu interaction reactions, e.g., biosorption and bioreduction.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Henry Moll
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), Institute of Resource Ecology, Bautzner Landstrasse 400, 01328, Dresden, Germany.
| | - Andrea Cherkouk
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), Institute of Resource Ecology, Bautzner Landstrasse 400, 01328, Dresden, Germany
| | - Frank Bok
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), Institute of Resource Ecology, Bautzner Landstrasse 400, 01328, Dresden, Germany
| | - Gert Bernhard
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), Institute of Resource Ecology, Bautzner Landstrasse 400, 01328, Dresden, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Zhao C, Liu J, Li X, Li F, Tu H, Sun Q, Liao J, Yang J, Yang Y, Liu N. Biosorption and bioaccumulation behavior of uranium on Bacillus sp. dwc-2: Investigation by Box-Behenken design method. J Mol Liq 2016. [DOI: 10.1016/j.molliq.2016.05.085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
|