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Influence of Microbiological Activity on the Mobility of Redoxsensitive Radionuclides in Sediments

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  25 February 2011

Irmgard Stroetmann ,
P. Kämpfer ,
W. Dott ,
J. Schüle ,
R. Sokotnejat ,
A. Winkler  and
A. Pekdeger
Irmgard Stroetmann
Affiliation:
Technische Universität Berlin, Fachgebiet Hygiene, Amrumerstr. 35, D-13353 Berlin, Germany
P. Kämpfer
Affiliation:
Technische Universität Berlin, Fachgebiet Hygiene, Amrumerstr. 35, D-13353 Berlin, Germany
W. Dott
Affiliation:
Technische Universität Berlin, Fachgebiet Hygiene, Amrumerstr. 35, D-13353 Berlin, Germany
J. Schüle
Affiliation:
Freie Universität Berlin, FR Rohstoff- und Umweltgeologie, Malteserstr. 74-100, D-12249 Berlin, Germany
R. Sokotnejat
Affiliation:
Freie Universität Berlin, FR Rohstoff- und Umweltgeologie, Malteserstr. 74-100, D-12249 Berlin, Germany
A. Winkler
Affiliation:
Freie Universität Berlin, FR Rohstoff- und Umweltgeologie, Malteserstr. 74-100, D-12249 Berlin, Germany
A. Pekdeger
Affiliation:
Freie Universität Berlin, FR Rohstoff- und Umweltgeologie, Malteserstr. 74-100, D-12249 Berlin, Germany
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Abstract

The influence of microbial activity on the transport and migration behaviour of redox-sensitive radionuclides (e.g. Technetium (Tc) and Selenium (Se)) in groundwater environment were investigated within an interdisciplinarary research program. Soil material and sediments were investigated with batch- and recircu-lation column experiments. The number of microorganisms in the water was determined by counting the colony forming units (CFU) on R2A agar at regular periods.

The results of sterile and non sterile recirculation column experiments showed within 80 days a high fixation of the radionuclides in the unsterile samples (80% of Tc, 50% of Se compared with the initial concentration Ao), and no fixation in the sterile samples. There was no difference in the redox values.

It could be shown that the immobilisation of the redox-sensitive elements Tc and Se are strongly determined by microbial activity, depending on the different sediments and their microbial live stock. There are indications that the microorganisms found in the non sterile columns are allochthonous bacteria which were dragged into the experimental systems and samples during laboratory work and sampling. The composition of the microbial flora was shown to be very heterogenous and different in each individual column and within the same column at different times. Thus these columns might have been contaminated with microorganisms during sampling and handling of the experimental systems under non sterile conditions, as done generally in most laboratories.

Type
Research Article
Information
MRS Online Proceedings Library (OPL) , Volume 333: Symposium V – Scientific Basis for Nuclear Waste Management XVII , 1993 , 745
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 1994

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References

REFERENCES

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