Influence of Uranium Concentration and pH on U-Phosphate Biomineralization by Caulobacter OR37

Environ Sci Technol. 2021 Feb 2;55(3):1626-1636. doi: 10.1021/acs.est.0c05437. Epub 2021 Jan 20.

Abstract

Uranium contamination of soils and groundwater in the United States represents a significant health risk and will require multiple remediation approaches. Microbial phosphatase activity coupled to the addition of an organic P source has recently been studied as a remediation strategy that provides an extended release of inorganic P (Pi) into U-contaminated sites, resulting in the precipitation of meta-autunite minerals. Previous laboratory- and field-based biomineralization studies have investigated environments with relatively high U concentrations (>20 μM). However, most contaminated sites have much lower U concentrations (<2 μM). The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) limit for U in drinking water is 0.126 μM. Reaching this regulatory limit becomes challenging as U concentrations approach autunite solubility. We studied the precipitation of U(VI)-phosphate minerals by an environmental isolate of Caulobacter sp. (strain OR37) from an Oak Ridge, Tennessee, U-contaminated site. Abiotic U(VI) solubility experiments reveal that U(VI)-phosphate minerals do not form in the presence of excess Pi (500 μM) when U(VI) concentrations are <1 μM and pH is <5. When OR37 cells are reacted under the same conditions with Pi or glycerol-2-phosphate, U(VI)-phosphate mineral formation was observed, along with the formation of intracellular polyphosphate granules. These results show that bacteria provide supersaturated microenvironments needed for U(VI)-phosphate mineralization while hydrolyzing organic P sources. This provides a pathway to lower U concentrations to below EPA limits for drinking water.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Biomineralization
  • Caulobacter*
  • Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
  • Phosphates
  • Tennessee
  • Uranium* / analysis

Substances

  • Phosphates
  • Uranium