Biomineralization of uranium by Desulfovibrio desulfuricans A3-21ZLL under various hydrochemical conditions

Bei Zhao; Xin Chen; Hongliang Chen; Linlin Zhang; Jiang Li; Yadan Guo; Haiyan Liu; Zhongkui Zhou; Pingchao Ke; Zhanxue Sun

doi:10.1016/j.envres.2023.116950

Biomineralization of uranium by Desulfovibrio desulfuricans A3-21ZLL under various hydrochemical conditions

Environ Res. 2023 Nov 15;237(Pt 2):116950. doi: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.116950. Epub 2023 Sep 1.

Authors

Bei Zhao¹, Xin Chen², Hongliang Chen², Linlin Zhang², Jiang Li³, Yadan Guo², Haiyan Liu², Zhongkui Zhou², Pingchao Ke², Zhanxue Sun⁴

Affiliations

¹ China University of Geosciences (Beijing), Beijing 100083, China.
² School of Water Resources and Environmental Engineering, East China University of Technology, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China.
³ School of Chemistry, Biology and Materials Science, East China University of Technology, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China.
⁴ State Key Laboratory of Nuclear Resources and Environment, East China University of Technology, Nanchang 330013, China; China University of Geosciences (Beijing), Beijing 100083, China; School of Water Resources and Environmental Engineering, East China University of Technology, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China. Electronic address: zhxsun@ecut.edu.cn.

PMID: 37660876
DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.116950

Abstract

Uranium pollution in groundwater environment has become an important issue of global concern. In this study, a strain of Desulfovibrio desulfuricans was isolated from the tailings of acid heap leaching, and was shown to be able to remove uranium from water via biosorption, bio-reduction, passive biomineralization under uranium stress, and active metabolically dependent bioaccumulation. This research explored the effects of nutrients, pH, initial uranium and sulfate concentration on the functional groups, uranium valence, and crystal size and morphology of uranium immobilization products. Results showed that tetravalent and hexavalent phosphorus-containing uranium minerals was both formed. In sulfate-containing water where Desulfovibrio desulfuricans A3-21ZLL can grow, the sequestration of uranium by bio-reduction was significantly enhanced compared to that with no sulfate loading or no growth. Ungrown Desulfovibrio desulfuricans A3-21ZLL or dead ones released inorganic phosphate group in response to the stress of uranium, which associated with soluble uranyl ion to form insoluble uranium-containing precipitates. This study revealed the influence of hydrochemical conditions on the mineralogy characteristics and spatial distribution of microbial uranium immobilization products. This study is conducive to the long-term and stable bioremediation of groundwater in decommissioned uranium mining area.

Keywords: Desulfovibrio desulfuricans; Groundwater; Hydrochemical conditions; Immobilization; Uranium contamination.