Contact

Dr. Andrea Cherkouk

Head MICRONUC
a.cherkoukAthzdr.de
Phone: +49 351 260 2989

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Research group MICRONUC: MICRObial Activity in NUClear waste disposal

The safe storage of nuclear waste in deep geological repositories is a big challenge for our society. Comprehensive understanding of the migration of actinides within the respective host rock and the transport behavior after a possible release from the repository should is urgently needed. Detrimental effects of the radioactive waste on humans and the environment must be avoided over a very long-time period. Microorganisms, which exist in the host rock and backfill material, can survive under extreme conditions over a very long period of time. Their presence therein is of interest because microbial processes can affect the physical and geochemical conditions (e.g. pH, Eh, release of gases) on site. Through their activity, microorganisms can also influence other processes e.g. the corrosion of the container material and migration behavior of actinides, which is caused by the direct or indirect interaction of the microorganisms with the actinides. These processes depend on the type of microbial population, the actinide, and the geochemical circumstances.

The aim of this group is to study the microbial diversity and their activity in the potential host rocks (clay rock, salt rock, crystalline rock) and barrier materials (e.g. bentonite) for nuclear waste disposal and to evaluate their role in respect to the corrosion of container material and the migration of actinides in the geo- and biosphere.

Current research themes

  • Investigation of the microbial diversity in potential host rocks and barrier materials relevant for a nuclear waste repository in Germany by culture-independent (e.g. DNA/RNA extraction, 16S rRNA gene analysis,) as well as culture-dependent (enrichment and isolation of microorganisms) methods
  • Micro- and mesocosm experiments to investigate the microbial activity in the barrier material depending on different repository relevant conditions and their effect on the corrosion of container material
  • Characterization of the interaction mechanisms of microorganisms isolated from the different host rocks and barrier materials with actinides on a molecular level by applying a combination of different spectroscopies (e.g. Time-Resolved Laser-Induced Fluorescence Spectroscopy (TRLFS), Infrared Spectroscopy (IR) and X-ray absorption spectroscopy) and microscopic techniques such as Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) in combination with Energy-Dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX).
  • Use of meta-omics techniques to investigate metabolic networks and the influence of the biosphere on the migration behavior of radionuclides

Projects

  • EURAD-MAGIC, NEA/EU-Projekt, Förderkennzeichen: 847593, Laufzeit: 01.06.2019-31.05.2024
  • EURAD-ConCorD, NEA/EU-Projekt, Förderkennzeichen: 847593, Laufzeit: 01.06.2021-31.05.2024
  • UMB-II/BMWi Projekt, Förderkennzeichen: 02E11870B, Laufzeit: 01.01.2021-30.06.2025

Team

NameBld./Office+49 351 260Email
Cherkouk Dr., Andrea801/P3562989
a.cherkoukAthzdr.de
Kluge, Sindy801/P2193194
s.klugeAthzdr.de
Matschiavelli Dr., Nicole801/P3182759
n.matschiavelliAthzdr.de
Wei Dr., Ting-Shyang801/P3182759
t.weiAthzdr.de

Selected publications:

2024

Numerical modeling and simulation of microbially induced calcite precipitation on a cement surface at the pore scale

Yuan, T.; Cherkouk, A.; Fischer, C.


No signs for microbial influenced corrosion of cast iron and copper in bentonite microcosms after 400 days

Sushko, V.; Dressler, M.; Ting-Shyang Wei, S.; Neubert, T.; Kühn, L.; Cherkouk, A.; Stumpf, T.; Matschiavelli, N.


2023

Europium(III) as luminescence probe for interactions of a sulfate-reducing microorganism with potentially toxic metals

Hilpmann, S.; Moll, H.; Drobot, B.; Vogel, M.; Hübner, R.; Stumpf, T.; Cherkouk, A.

Related publications


Presence of uranium(V) during uranium(VI) reduction by Desulfosporosinus hippei DSM 8344T

Hilpmann, S.; Roßberg, A.; Steudtner, R.; Drobot, B.; Hübner, R.; Bok, F.; Prieur, D.; Bauters, S.; Kvashnina, K.; Stumpf, T.; Cherkouk, A.

Related publications


2022

Microscopic and spectroscopic bioassociation study of uranium(VI) with an archaeal Halobacterium isolate

Hilpmann, S.; Bader, M.; Steudtner, R.; Müller, K.; Stumpf, T.; Cherkouk, A.

Related publications


2021

Bentonite alteration in batch reactor experiments with and without fertilizing agents: implications for the disposal of radioactive waste

Podlech, C.; Matschiavelli, N.; Peltz, M.; Kluge, S.; Arnold, T.; Cherkouk, A.; Meleshyn, A.; Grathoff, G.; Warr, L. N.


Multisystem combined uranium resistance mechanisms and bioremediation potential of Stenotrophomonas bentonitica BII-R7: Transcriptomics and microscopic study

Pinel-Cabello, M.; Jroundi, F.; Lopez Fernandez, M.; Geffers, R.; Jarek, M.; Jauregui, R.; Link, A.; Vílchez-Vargas, R.; Merroun, M. L.


2020

Presence of Bradyrhizobium sp. under continental conditions in Central Europe

Griebsch, A.; Matschiavelli, N.; Lewandowska, S.; Schmidtke, K.


Molecular binding of Eu(III)/Cm(III) by Stenotrophomonas bentonitica and its impact on the safety of future geodisposal of radioactive waste

Ruiz-Fresneda, M. A.; Lopez Fernandez, M.; Martinez-Moreno, M. F.; Cherkouk, A.; Ju-Nam, Y.; Ojeda, J. J.; Moll, H.; Merroun, M. L.


2019

The year-long development of microorganisms in uncompacted Bavarian bentonite slurries at 30 °C and 60 °C

Matschiavelli, N.; Kluge, S.; Podlech, C.; Standhaft, D.; Grathoff, G.; Ikeda-Ohno, A.; Warr, L.; Chukharkina, A.; Arnold, T.; Cherkouk, A.


Association of Eu(III) and Cm(III) onto an extremely halophilic archaeon

Bader, M.; Moll, H.; Steudtner, R.; Lösch, H.; Drobot, B.; Stumpf, T.; Cherkouk, A.


Microbial diversity in an arid, naturally saline environment

Bachran, M.; Kluge, S.; Lopez-Fernandez, M.; Cherkouk, A.


2018

Impact of Haloarchaea on speciation of uranium – a multi-spectroscopic approach

Bader, M.; Rossberg, A.; Steudtner, R.; Drobot, B.; Großmann, K.; Schmidt, M.; Musat, N.; Stumpf, T.; Ikeda-Ohno, A.; Cherkouk, A.

Involved research facilities

Related publications


Comparative analysis of uranium bioassociation with halophilic bacteria and archaea

Bader, M.; Müller, K.; Foerstendorf, H.; Schmidt, M.; Simmons, K.; Swanson, J. S.; Reed, D. T.; Stumpf, T.; Cherkouk, A.