Microbial reduction and precipitation of uranium using anaerobic bacteria Shewanella sp GCWx8

The microbial reduction and precipitation of uranium using anaerobic bacteria are one of the effective methods considered during the last two decades to prevent permeation of the uranium to the environment. In this study, the capability of a facultative anaerobic bacterium, Shewanella </em>spGCWx8, for reduction and removal of the uranium from the aqueous solutions are investigated. Thus, uranyl acetate is introduced into the bacteria anaerobically in the presence of the sodium lactate as an electron donor. This process resulted in the removal of the uranium from the solution and the formation of a precipitate containing uranium and cells. The analysis of the precipitate, using both Auto-lab and UV-vis spectra, confirmed that most of the uranium in the precipitate was in the from of reduced uranium, U(IV). Therefore, the mechanism of uranium removal by the strain GCWx8 in the aerobic condition is a reduction process. The best pH for a uranium removal by the GCWx8 was obtained 6.8, and the maximum removal percent at the cell density of 109</sup> (cells per milliliter) has gained 90%. The first order of the reaction rate was satisfactory for bioreduction at the first day of the incubation. Based on the first order of the reaction rate assumption for the uranium bioreduction, the reaction rate constant was obtained 0.06 hr-1</sup>. As a result, strain Shewanella </em>spGCWx8 was found as an able bacterium for the uranium bioreduction.