Uranium bacteria

2004/01/01 Elhuyar Zientzia Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria

• Ingurumena

A research group at Massachusetts Amherst University has used Geobacteraceae family bacteria to treat a uranium-contaminated well.

Before it was known that these bacteria were able to digest iron, but it seems that they also internalize in the metabolism the radioactive uranium dissolved in the water, forming a compound without radioactivity: uraninite.

The investigation has been conducted in a well contaminated by uranium. There, geobacters have proliferated and, in 50 days, 70% of uranium has been precipitated as uraninite.

Therefore, geobacters can help treat uranium without direct manipulation. In fact, cleaning water from uranium-contaminated wells is often extracted and, due to its toxicity, endangers workers.