Biogeochemical Activity of Indigenous Bacteria in KURT Deep-Fracture and Subsequent Change of Adsorption Behavior Characteristics of Radioactive Uranium

doi:10.12972/ksmer.2016.53.5.452

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2016 Vol.53, Issue 5 Preview Page Next Page

Research Paper (Special Issue)

Biogeochemical Activity of Indigenous Bacteria in KURT Deep-Fracture and Subsequent Change of Adsorption Behavior Characteristics of Radioactive Uranium KURT 암반단열 내 미생물의 생지화학적 활동과 방사성 우라늄의 수착거동 특성 변화: 이승엽·백민훈·차완식·류지훈
Seung Yeop Lee, Min Hoon Baik, Wansik Cha and Ji-Hun Ryu

31 October 2016. pp. 452-462

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Abstract

The radioactive wastes that would be disposed in a deep underground environment could interact withgroundwater, and subsequently some radionuclides would be released and finally reach to the surface ecosystem through rock fractures. We conducted an experiment to make radioactive uranium interacted with KURT fracture-filling materials under a laboratory disposal condition. First, we identified indigenous bacteria that were alive in some fracture-filling materials. They have made the fracture-filling materials altered, and affected the adsorption behaviors of uranium for a long-term experimental period. There occurred a characteristic dissolution of some iron-bearing minerals and a subsequent new formation of sulfides, including a relative increase of uranium adsorption onto the fracture-filling materials by the indigenous bacteria. These results show that some radionuclides such as uranium that could movethrough the rock fractures are expected to be largely affected by the biogeochemical activity of the fracture-living bacteria on their adsorption and mobility.

Keywords

Radioactive wastes

Radioactive uranium

Fracture-filling materials

Indigenous bacteria

Adsorption

지하심부 환경에 처분된 방사성폐기물은 오랜 기간 지하수와 반응하면서 일부 핵종들은 용출되고 암반 단열을 통해 지표 생태계에 최종 도달하게 될 것이다. 이를 가정하여 실내 처분환경조건 하에서 방사성 우라늄과 KURT 단열충전물과의 상호반응 실험을 수행하였다. 실험에 앞서 단열충전물 내에 토착미생물이 생존하고 있음을 확인하였고, 이들 미생물에 의해 장기적으로 단열충전물이 변질되고 방사성 우라늄의 수착 거동이 달라짐을 확인하였다. 관찰된 현상으로는 토착미생물에 의해 철함유 광물들이 용해되거나 새로운 황화물이 생성되었고, 단열충전물에 대한 우라늄의 수착량도 상대적으로 증가하였다. 이와 같은 결과를 통해, 단열을 따라 이동하게 될 우라늄과 같은 핵종들은 단열충전물 내 토착미생물들의 생지화학적 활동으로 장기적으로 핵종들의 수착 및 이동성이 크게 영향받을 것으로예상된다.

키워드

방사성폐기물

방사성 우라늄

단열충전물

토착미생물

수착

References

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Bargar, J.R., Williams, K.H., Campbell, K.M., Long, P.E., Stubbs, J.E., Suvorova, E.I., Lezama-Pacheco, J.S., Alessi, D.S., Stylo, M., Webb, S.M., Davis, J.A., Giammar, D.E., Blue, L.Y. and Bernier-Latmani, R., 2013, “Uranium redox transition pathways in acetate-amended sediments,” Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci., Vol. 110, No. 12, pp. 4506-4511.
Choi, H.J., Lee, J.Y. and Choi, J.W., 2013, “Development of geological disposal systems for spent fuels and high-level radioactive wastes in Korea,” Nucl. Eng. Technol., Vol. 45, No. 1, pp. 29-40.
Ehrlich, H.L., 1990, Geomicrobiology, 2nd(ed.), Marcel Dekker, New York, p. 646
Hua, B., Xu, H., Terry, J. and Deng, B., 2006, “Kinetics of uranium(VI) reduction by hydrogen sulfide in anoxic aqueous systems,” Environ. Sci. Technol., Vol. 40, No. 15, pp. 4666-4671.
Hyun, S.P., Davis, J.A., Sun, K. and Hayes, K.F., 2012, “Uranium(VI) reduction by iron(II) monosulfide mackinawite,” Environ. Sci. Technol., Vol. 46, No. 3, pp. 3369-3376.
Kim, Y., Oh, J.M., Jung, H.Y., Lee, S.Y. and Roh, Y., 2014, “Characterization of microbial diversity of metal-reducing bacteria enriched from groundwater and reduction/biomineralization of iron and manganese,” Econ. Environ. Geol., Vol. 47, No. 4, pp. 431-439.
Lee, J.Y., Lee, S.Y., Baik, M.H. and Jeong, J.T., 2013a, “Existence and characteristics of microbial cells in the bentonite to be used for a buffer material of high-level wastes,” J. Nucl. Fuel Cycle Waste Technol., Vol. 11, No. 2, pp. 95-102.
Lee, S.Y., Baik, M.H. and Cho, W.J., 2006, “Mineralogical characteristics of calcite observed in the KAERI underground research tunnel,” J. Miner. Soc. Korea, Vol. 19, No. 4, pp. 239-246.
Lee, S.Y., Baik, M.H., Cho, H.R., Jung, E.C., Jeong, J.T., Choi, J.W., Lee, Y.B. and Lee, Y.J., 2013b, “Abiotic reduction of uranium by mackinawite (FeS) biogenerated under sulfate-reducing conditon,” J. Radioanal. Nucl. Chem., Vol. 296, No. 2, pp. 1311-1319.
Lee, S.Y., Baik, M.H. and Choi, J.W., 2010, “Biogenic formation and growth of uraninite (UO2),” Environ. Sci. Technol., Vol. 44, No. 22, pp. 8409-8414.
Lee, S.Y., Oh, J.M., Baik, M.H. and Lee, Y.J., 2011a, “Change of oxidation/reduction potential of solution by metal-reducing bacteria and roles of biosynthesized mackinawite,” J. Miner. Soc. Korea, Vol. 24, No. 4, pp. 279-287.
Lee, S.Y., Cha, W.S., Kim, J.G., Baik, M.H., Jung, E.C., Jeong, J.T., Kim, K., Chung, S.Y. and Lee, Y.J., 2014, “Uranium (IV) remobilization under sulfate reducing conditions,” Chem. Geol., Vol. 370, No. 1, pp. 40-48.
Lee, S.Y., Lee, J.Y., Min, J.H., Kim, S.S., Baik, M.H., Chung, S.Y., Lee, M. and Lee, Y., 2016, “Microbial copper reduction method to scavenge anthropogenic radioiodine,” Sci. Rep., Vol. 6, pp. 28113.
Lee, S.Y., Oh, J.M. and Baik, M.H., 2011b, “Interaction between selenium and bacterium and mineralogical characteristics of biotreated selenium,” J. Miner. Soc. Korea, Vol. 24, No. 3, pp. 217-224.
Lovley, D.R., Phillips, E.J.P., Gorby, Y.A. and Landa, E.R., 1991, “Microbial reduction of uranium,” Nature, Vol. 350, No. 4, pp. 413-416.
Lovley, D.R. and Phillips, E.J.P., 1992, “Reduction of uranium by Desulfovibrio desulfuricans,” Appl. Environ. Microbiol., Vol. 58, No. 3, pp. 850-856.
Oh, J.M., Lee, S.Y., Baik, M.H. and Roh, Y., 2010, “Characterization of uranium removal and mineralization by bacteria in deep underground, Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI),” J. Miner. Soc. Korea, Vol. 23, No. 2, pp. 107-115.
Sanchez-Andrea, I., Rodriguez, N., Amils, R. and Sanz, J.L., 2011, “Microbial diversity in anaerobic sediments at Rio Tinto, a naturally acidic environment with a high heavy metal content,” Appl. Environ. Microbiol., Vol. 77, No. 17, pp. 6085-6093.
Sawasaki, T., Tanabe, T., Yoshida, T. and Ishida, R., 2003, “Application of gamma radiolysis of water for H2 production,” J. Radioanal. Nucl. Chem. Vol. 255, No. 2, pp. 271-274.
Ulrich, K.U., Singh, A., Schofield, E.J., Bargar, J.R., Veeramani, H., Sharp, J.O., Bernier-Latmani, R. and Giammar, D.E., 2008, “Dissolution of biogenic and synthetic UO₂ under varied reducing conditions,” Environ. Sci. Technol., Vol. 42, No. 15, pp. 5600-5606.
Zhang, J., Dong, H., Liu, D. and Agrawal, A., 2013, “Microbial reduction of Fe(III) in smectite minerals by thermophilic methanogen Methanothermobacter thermautotrophicus,” Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta, Vol. 106, No. 1, pp. 203-215.

Information

Publisher :The Korean Society of Mineral and Energy Resources Engineers
Publisher(Ko) :한국자원공학회
Journal Title :Journal of the Korean Society of Mineral and Energy Resources Engineers
Journal Title(Ko) :한국자원공학회지
Volume : 53
No :5
Pages :452-462
DOI :https://doi.org/10.12972/ksmer.2016.53.5.452

[1] Anderson, R.T., Vrionis, H.A., Ortiz-Bernad, I., Resch, C.T., Long, P.E., Dayvault, R., Karp, K., Marutzky, S., Metzler, D.R., Peacock, A., White, D.C., Lowe, M. and Lovley, D.R., 2003, “Stimulating the in situ activity of Geobacter species to remove uranium from the groundwater of a uranium- contaminated aquifer,” Appl. Environ. Microbiol., Vol. 69, No. 10, pp. 5884-5891.

[2] Bargar, J.R., Williams, K.H., Campbell, K.M., Long, P.E., Stubbs, J.E., Suvorova, E.I., Lezama-Pacheco, J.S., Alessi, D.S., Stylo, M., Webb, S.M., Davis, J.A., Giammar, D.E., Blue, L.Y. and Bernier-Latmani, R., 2013, “Uranium redox transition pathways in acetate-amended sediments,” Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci., Vol. 110, No. 12, pp. 4506-4511.

[3] Choi, H.J., Lee, J.Y. and Choi, J.W., 2013, “Development of geological disposal systems for spent fuels and high-level radioactive wastes in Korea,” Nucl. Eng. Technol., Vol. 45, No. 1, pp. 29-40.

[4] Ehrlich, H.L., 1990, Geomicrobiology, 2nd(ed.), Marcel Dekker, New York, p. 646

[5] Hua, B., Xu, H., Terry, J. and Deng, B., 2006, “Kinetics of uranium(VI) reduction by hydrogen sulfide in anoxic aqueous systems,” Environ. Sci. Technol., Vol. 40, No. 15, pp. 4666-4671.

[6] Hyun, S.P., Davis, J.A., Sun, K. and Hayes, K.F., 2012, “Uranium(VI) reduction by iron(II) monosulfide mackinawite,” Environ. Sci. Technol., Vol. 46, No. 3, pp. 3369-3376.

[7] Kim, Y., Oh, J.M., Jung, H.Y., Lee, S.Y. and Roh, Y., 2014, “Characterization of microbial diversity of metal-reducing bacteria enriched from groundwater and reduction/biomineralization of iron and manganese,” Econ. Environ. Geol., Vol. 47, No. 4, pp. 431-439.

[8] Lee, J.Y., Lee, S.Y., Baik, M.H. and Jeong, J.T., 2013a, “Existence and characteristics of microbial cells in the bentonite to be used for a buffer material of high-level wastes,” J. Nucl. Fuel Cycle Waste Technol., Vol. 11, No. 2, pp. 95-102.

[9] Lee, S.Y., Baik, M.H. and Cho, W.J., 2006, “Mineralogical characteristics of calcite observed in the KAERI underground research tunnel,” J. Miner. Soc. Korea, Vol. 19, No. 4, pp. 239-246.

[10] Lee, S.Y., Baik, M.H., Cho, H.R., Jung, E.C., Jeong, J.T., Choi, J.W., Lee, Y.B. and Lee, Y.J., 2013b, “Abiotic reduction of uranium by mackinawite (FeS) biogenerated under sulfate-reducing conditon,” J. Radioanal. Nucl. Chem., Vol. 296, No. 2, pp. 1311-1319.

[11] Lee, S.Y., Baik, M.H. and Choi, J.W., 2010, “Biogenic formation and growth of uraninite (UO2),” Environ. Sci. Technol., Vol. 44, No. 22, pp. 8409-8414.

[12] Lee, S.Y., Oh, J.M., Baik, M.H. and Lee, Y.J., 2011a, “Change of oxidation/reduction potential of solution by metal-reducing bacteria and roles of biosynthesized mackinawite,” J. Miner. Soc. Korea, Vol. 24, No. 4, pp. 279-287.

[13] Lee, S.Y., Cha, W.S., Kim, J.G., Baik, M.H., Jung, E.C., Jeong, J.T., Kim, K., Chung, S.Y. and Lee, Y.J., 2014, “Uranium (IV) remobilization under sulfate reducing conditions,” Chem. Geol., Vol. 370, No. 1, pp. 40-48.

[14] Lee, S.Y., Lee, J.Y., Min, J.H., Kim, S.S., Baik, M.H., Chung, S.Y., Lee, M. and Lee, Y., 2016, “Microbial copper reduction method to scavenge anthropogenic radioiodine,” Sci. Rep., Vol. 6, pp. 28113.

[15] Lee, S.Y., Oh, J.M. and Baik, M.H., 2011b, “Interaction between selenium and bacterium and mineralogical characteristics of biotreated selenium,” J. Miner. Soc. Korea, Vol. 24, No. 3, pp. 217-224.

[16] Lovley, D.R., Phillips, E.J.P., Gorby, Y.A. and Landa, E.R., 1991, “Microbial reduction of uranium,” Nature, Vol. 350, No. 4, pp. 413-416.

[17] Lovley, D.R. and Phillips, E.J.P., 1992, “Reduction of uranium by Desulfovibrio desulfuricans,” Appl. Environ. Microbiol., Vol. 58, No. 3, pp. 850-856.

[18] Oh, J.M., Lee, S.Y., Baik, M.H. and Roh, Y., 2010, “Characterization of uranium removal and mineralization by bacteria in deep underground, Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI),” J. Miner. Soc. Korea, Vol. 23, No. 2, pp. 107-115.

[19] Sanchez-Andrea, I., Rodriguez, N., Amils, R. and Sanz, J.L., 2011, “Microbial diversity in anaerobic sediments at Rio Tinto, a naturally acidic environment with a high heavy metal content,” Appl. Environ. Microbiol., Vol. 77, No. 17, pp. 6085-6093.

[20] Sawasaki, T., Tanabe, T., Yoshida, T. and Ishida, R., 2003, “Application of gamma radiolysis of water for H2 production,” J. Radioanal. Nucl. Chem. Vol. 255, No. 2, pp. 271-274.

[21] Ulrich, K.U., Singh, A., Schofield, E.J., Bargar, J.R., Veeramani, H., Sharp, J.O., Bernier-Latmani, R. and Giammar, D.E., 2008, “Dissolution of biogenic and synthetic UO₂ under varied reducing conditions,” Environ. Sci. Technol., Vol. 42, No. 15, pp. 5600-5606.

[22] Zhang, J., Dong, H., Liu, D. and Agrawal, A., 2013, “Microbial reduction of Fe(III) in smectite minerals by thermophilic methanogen Methanothermobacter thermautotrophicus,” Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta, Vol. 106, No. 1, pp. 203-215.

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