Interaction of Plutonium with Bacteria in the Repository Environment Page: 2 of 7
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in high ionic strength solution and Acetobacterium sp in low ionic strength solution and
contacted with 10"1 to 10"9 M 241Pu-nitrate at a constant pH of 5.
Figure 1 shows 239Pu association with the cells of Halomonas sp. and the mixed culture
during growth in the presence of various concentrations and forms of Pu. During the growth of
Halomonas sp., the pH of the medium changed from 7.0 to 8.5 as a result of bacterial action.
Plutonium association with the bacterial cells was determined by separating the cells after
filtration through a 0.4 m membrane filter and analysis of Pu in solution before and after
filtration. Samples containing Pu but without bacterial cells were used as controls. Halomonas
sp. sorbed 0.013 to 2.1 x 10- mol Pu added as perchlorate per mg cells dry wt., and 0.057 to 0.99
x 10 mol Pu added as the EDTA complex per mg cells dry wt., depending upon the
concentration of Pu added. On the other hand, with the mixed culture the pH of the medium did
not change and remained constant at 6.5. The mixed culture sorbed 0.05 to 5 x 10'$ mol Pu added
as the EDTA complex per mg cells dry wt. Toxicity of Pu to both the pure (Halomonas sp.), and
mixed culture was observed at -2 to 3 x 10 M as evidenced by a reduction in the optical density
of the cell suspension, cell numbers and cell dry wt. It appears that at a lower cell density the
bacteria may be able to sorb more Pu due to the absence of both clumping of cells and shielding
of sorption sites at the cell-surface, hence the skewed data at higher Pu concentrations. A.n
increase in Pu sorption by the growing cells may also increase the toxic effects.
Figure 2 shows association of 241Pu with the resting cells of Halomonas sp. and
Acetobacterium sp. that had been contacted with various concentrations of 241Pu nitrate at pH 5
for 30 min. The halophile Halomonas sp. showed -36% removal of the added Pu at both thep. 2
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Gillow, J. B.; Francis, A. J.; Lucero, D. A. & Papenguth, H. W. Interaction of Plutonium with Bacteria in the Repository Environment, article, July 1, 2000; Upton, New York. (https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc724624/m1/2/: accessed April 19, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, UNT Digital Library, https://digital.library.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.