Uranium bacteria
2004/01/01 Elhuyar Zientzia Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria
A research group at Massachusetts Amherst University has used Geobacteraceae family bacteria to treat a uranium-contaminated well.
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Before it was known that these bacteria were able to digest iron, but it seems that they also internalize in the metabolism the radioactive uranium dissolved in the water, forming a compound without radioactivity: uraninite.
The investigation has been conducted in a well contaminated by uranium. There, geobacters have proliferated and, in 50 days, 70% of uranium has been precipitated as uraninite.
Therefore, geobacters can help treat uranium without direct manipulation. In fact, cleaning water from uranium-contaminated wells is often extracted and, due to its toxicity, endangers workers.
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