Bacteria Lock Toxic Uranium into a Stable Form

Topic: Environment

Scientists at HZDR and University of Granada found that bacteria can transform toxic uranium in water into a stable compound when fed glycerol. This process could help clean up environments contaminated with uranium.

Uranium is a radioactive heavy metal that's usually locked inside soil minerals. However, mining and other activities can release it into the environment, making it toxic to humans and wildlife. Researchers at the Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR) in Germany wanted to find a way to clean up uranium-contaminated water.

The team collected mine water from a flooded uranium mine in the Ore Mountains and added glycerol, a food source for bacteria. They kept the samples in an environment without oxygen, allowing the bacteria to grow naturally. After 130 days, only about 5% of the uranium remained dissolved in the water.

Using advanced microscopy and spectroscopy, the researchers found that the bacteria had incorporated the uranium into their cell walls. This process created a rare form of uranium called pentavalent uranium (U(V)). Until now, this type of uranium was thought to be unstable.

Why It Matters

This discovery could help clean up environments contaminated with uranium, which is a major global concern due to its toxic effects on ecosystems and human health.

Key Facts

• Scientists at HZDR and University of Granada found that bacteria can transform toxic uranium in water into a stable compound when fed glycerol.
• The process was tested using mine water from a flooded uranium mine in the Ore Mountains, Germany.
• After 130 days, only about 5% of the uranium remained dissolved in the water.
• The researchers found that the bacteria had incorporated the uranium into their cell walls, creating a rare form of uranium called pentavalent uranium (U(V)).
• This discovery could help clean up environments contaminated with uranium.

Key Terms

Pentavalent Uranium

A rare and stable form of uranium that's created when bacteria transform toxic uranium in water into a compound.

Implications

This discovery could help clean up environments contaminated with uranium, which is a major global concern due to its toxic effects on ecosystems and human health.