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The Microbiology of The Maqarin Site, Jordan - A Natural Analogue for Cementitious Radioactive Waste Repositories

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 February 2011

Julia M West ,
Patricia Coombs ,
Susan J Gardner  and
Christopher A Rochelle
Julia M West
Affiliation:
Fluid Processes Group, British Geological Survey, Keyworth, Nottingham NG12 5GG, UK.
Patricia Coombs
Affiliation:
Fluid Processes Group, British Geological Survey, Keyworth, Nottingham NG12 5GG, UK.
Susan J Gardner
Affiliation:
Fluid Processes Group, British Geological Survey, Keyworth, Nottingham NG12 5GG, UK.
Christopher A Rochelle
Affiliation:
Fluid Processes Group, British Geological Survey, Keyworth, Nottingham NG12 5GG, UK.
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Abstract

The Maqarin site, Jordan is being studied as a natural analogue of a cementitious radioactive waste repository. The microbiology has been studied and diverse microbial populations capable of tolerating alkaline pH were detected at all sampling localities. Dissolved organic carbon was identified as the potentially most important reductant with sulphate identified as the main oxidant, both supplying energy for microbial life. Calculations on upper limits of microbial numbers were made with a microbiology code (MGSE) using existing information but the results are overestimates when compared with field observations. This indicates that the model is very conservative and that more information on, for example, carbon sources is required.

Type
Research Article
Information
MRS Online Proceedings Library (OPL) , Volume 353: Symposium – Scientific Basis for Nuclear Waste Management XVIII , 1994 , 181
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 1995

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References

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