Degradation of Organic Complexing Agents by Halophilic Microorganisms in Brines
2013
Swanson, Juliet Stumpf | Norden, Diana M. | Khaing, Hnin M. | Reed, Donald T.
The potential use of geologic salt beds as terminal repositories for nuclear waste has necessitated research on the interaction of the waste with indigenous microbiota. Microorganisms may affect actinide solubility by degrading organic complexing agents present in the waste. A halophilic bacterium and Archaea indigenous to a salt formation in New Mexico were examined for their ability to degrade acetate, oxalate, citrate, and ethylenediamine tetraacetate under aerobic conditions in low and high-magnesium brines. All complexing agents, except EDTA, were utilized, suggesting that microorganisms indigenous to such repositories can potentially play a beneficial role in mitigating actinide mobility.
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