Effect of microorganisms on the plutonium oxidation states

• Published in: Applied radiation and isotopes Vol. 70; no. 3; pp. 442 - 449
• Main Authors: Lukšienė, Benedikta, Druteikienė, Rūta, Pečiulytė, Dalia, Baltrūnas, Dalis, Remeikis, Vidmantas, Paškevičius, Algimantas
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01-03-2012
• Subjects: Absidia spinosa; Bacillus mycoides; Bacteria; Bacteria - metabolism; Fungi; Fungi - metabolism; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Modified anion exchange method; Oxidation state; Oxidation-Reduction; Plutonium; Plutonium - metabolism; Rhodococcus fascians; Serratia marcescens; Modified anion exchange method; Fungi; Bacteria; Plutonium; Oxidation state
• ISSN: 0969-8043; 1872-9800
• DOI: 10.1016/j.apradiso.2011.11.016

Particular microbes from substrates at the low-level radioactive waste repository in the Ignalina NPP territory were exposed to
239Pu (IV) at low pH under aerobic conditions. Pu(III) and Pu(IV) were separated and quantitatively evaluated using the modified anion exchange method and alpha spectrometry. Tested bacteria
Bacillus mycoides and
Serratia marcescens were more effective in Pu reduction than
Rhodococcus fascians. Fungi
Paecillomyces lilacinus and
Absidia spinosa var.
spinosa as well as bacterium
Rhodococcus fascians did not alter the plutonium oxidation state.
► Particular microbes from low-level radioactive waste repository were exposed to Pu (IV). ► Some tested bacteria induced slight Pu (IV) reduction at low pH under aerobic conditions. ► Tested fungi did not show peculiarities to alter Pu oxidation state. ► The modified radiochemical method was applied to differentiate Pu oxidation states.