Investigations of the interactions of a Halobacterium isolate with uranium using different microscopic and spectroscopic methods

Rock salt formations can serve as potential host rocks for the long-term storage of high-level radioactive waste in a deep geological repository. Haloarchaea are widespread under these highly saline conditions. However, there exists a lack of knowledge about the interactions of these microorganisms with radionuclides especially concerning the chemical speciation. Therefore, the interactions of an extremely halophilic archaeon, Halobacterium sp. GP5 1-1 with uranium, one of the major radionuclides of concern, were investigated in detail. This haloarchaeon was isolated from a German rock salt sample. Different microscopic and spectroscopic techniques were used to get an overall image of the occurring processes on a molecular level.
Time-dependent association experiments with two different U(VI) concentrations were performed, to investigate the interaction kinetics of U(VI) with the cells of the haloarchaeon. The amount of bioassociated U(VI) increased with the incubation time at both concentrations. However, the association process at the lower concentration (10 µM) was much faster than at the higher U(VI) concentration (30 µM). Overall, the association process is not exclusively biosorption, being a passive process and normally finished after a short time of incubation (0 – 2 h) [1].
Scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy-dispersive X-ray absorption spectroscopy indicates different interaction mechanisms of the cells at different U(VI) concentrations. It was found that at a concentration of 10µM U(VI) preferentially biomineralization takes place, whereas biofilm-like structures are formed at a concentration of 30µM.
With the help of time-resolved laser-induced luminescence spectroscopy, different aqueous U(VI) species could be extracted from the supernatant. These species differ slightly in dependence of the U(VI) concentration. In general, the formation of a uranyl-carbonate-complex was observed. This could be the result of microbial released CO2 during the process. In contrast to the higher U(VI) concentration, a phosphate species was formed at a U(VI) concentration of 10 µM.
These findings offer new insights into the microbe-actinide interactions at highly saline conditions relevant to high-level radioactive waste disposal in rock salt formations.

[1] J. R. Lloyd, L. E. Macaskie (2002) in “Interactions of Microorganisms with Radionuclides” (Eds.: M.J. Keith-Roach, F. R. Livens), Elsevier, pp. 313-381