A simulated experimental reduction of and the synthesis of uraninite by a sulfate-reducing bacteria, Desulfovibrio desulfuricans DSM 642, are first reported. The simulated physicochemical experimental conditions were:...A simulated experimental reduction of and the synthesis of uraninite by a sulfate-reducing bacteria, Desulfovibrio desulfuricans DSM 642, are first reported. The simulated physicochemical experimental conditions were: 35°C, pH=7.0-7.4, corresponding to the environments of formation of the sandstone-hosted interlayer oxidation-zone type uranium deposits in Xinjiang, NW China. Uraninite was formed on the surface of the host bacteria after a one-week's incubation. Therefore, sulfate-reducing bacteria, which existed extensively in Jurassic sandstone-producing environments, might have participated in the biomineralization of this uranium deposit. There is an important difference in the order- disorder of the crystalline structure between the uraninite produced by Desulfovibrio desulfuricans and naturally occurring uraninite. Long time and slow precipitation and growth of uraninite in the geological environment might have resulted in larger uraninite crystals, with uraninite nanocrystals arranged in order, whereas the experimentally produced uraninite is composed of unordered uraninite nanocrystals which, in contrast, result from the short time span of formation and rapid precipitation and growth of uraninite. The discovery has important implications for understanding genetic significance in mineralogy, and also indicates that in-situ bioremediation of U-contaminated environments and use of biotechnology in the treatment of radioactive liquid waste is being contemplated.展开更多
An experimental study on reduction of U (VI) by anaerobic bacteria, Shewanella putrefaciens, is first reported here in China. The experimental conditions were: 35℃ and pH = 7.0—7.4, corresponding to a physicochemica...An experimental study on reduction of U (VI) by anaerobic bacteria, Shewanella putrefaciens, is first reported here in China. The experimental conditions were: 35℃ and pH = 7.0—7.4, corresponding to a physicochemical environments in which the sandstone-hosted in- terlayer oxidation-zone type uranium deposit formed in Northwest China’s Xinjiang. Bacteria adopted in the present experiment, Shewanella putrefaciens, occur extensively in natural envi- ronment. Our study shows that nano-crystal precipitates of uraninite quickly occurred on the surface of the cells within one week. It was found that the pitchblende was characterized by a random arrangement of uraninite nanocrystals (2—4 nm) in it, significantly different from natural pitchblende in which uraninite nanocrystals are arranged in order. Finally, a possible mechanism of uranium biomineralization by microorganisms in the deposits is discussed. Our investigation may supply a technical train of thoughts for bioremediation of nuclear-contaminated water envi- ronments and for underground dissolving extraction of the sandstone-hosted uranium ores.展开更多
基金the National Science Foundation.USA.(NSF Grant EAR 02-10820)the National Natural ScienceFoundation of China(NSFC Grant No.40173031)+1 种基金the International Cooperative Research Foundation of NSFC(Grant No.2002-40210104086) the Ph.D.Base Foundation of the Ministry of Education of China(Grant No.20020284036).
文摘A simulated experimental reduction of and the synthesis of uraninite by a sulfate-reducing bacteria, Desulfovibrio desulfuricans DSM 642, are first reported. The simulated physicochemical experimental conditions were: 35°C, pH=7.0-7.4, corresponding to the environments of formation of the sandstone-hosted interlayer oxidation-zone type uranium deposits in Xinjiang, NW China. Uraninite was formed on the surface of the host bacteria after a one-week's incubation. Therefore, sulfate-reducing bacteria, which existed extensively in Jurassic sandstone-producing environments, might have participated in the biomineralization of this uranium deposit. There is an important difference in the order- disorder of the crystalline structure between the uraninite produced by Desulfovibrio desulfuricans and naturally occurring uraninite. Long time and slow precipitation and growth of uraninite in the geological environment might have resulted in larger uraninite crystals, with uraninite nanocrystals arranged in order, whereas the experimentally produced uraninite is composed of unordered uraninite nanocrystals which, in contrast, result from the short time span of formation and rapid precipitation and growth of uraninite. The discovery has important implications for understanding genetic significance in mineralogy, and also indicates that in-situ bioremediation of U-contaminated environments and use of biotechnology in the treatment of radioactive liquid waste is being contemplated.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China CNNSFCXGant Nos.40025209 and 40173031)the International Coopenative Research Foundation of NNSFC(Grant No 2002-40210104086)Ph.D.Base Foundation of Education Mimistry of China(Grant No.20020284036).
文摘An experimental study on reduction of U (VI) by anaerobic bacteria, Shewanella putrefaciens, is first reported here in China. The experimental conditions were: 35℃ and pH = 7.0—7.4, corresponding to a physicochemical environments in which the sandstone-hosted in- terlayer oxidation-zone type uranium deposit formed in Northwest China’s Xinjiang. Bacteria adopted in the present experiment, Shewanella putrefaciens, occur extensively in natural envi- ronment. Our study shows that nano-crystal precipitates of uraninite quickly occurred on the surface of the cells within one week. It was found that the pitchblende was characterized by a random arrangement of uraninite nanocrystals (2—4 nm) in it, significantly different from natural pitchblende in which uraninite nanocrystals are arranged in order. Finally, a possible mechanism of uranium biomineralization by microorganisms in the deposits is discussed. Our investigation may supply a technical train of thoughts for bioremediation of nuclear-contaminated water envi- ronments and for underground dissolving extraction of the sandstone-hosted uranium ores.
