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Fate of Neptunium in an Anaerobic, Ethanogenic Microcosm

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 February 2011

J. E. Banaszak ,
S. M. Webb ,
B. E. Rittmann ,
J.-F. Gaillard  and
D. T. Reed
J. E. Banaszak
Affiliation:
Department of Civil Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208 Chemical Technology Division (CMT), Argonne National Lab, Argonne, IL 60439, [email protected]
S. M. Webb
Affiliation:
Department of Civil Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208
B. E. Rittmann
Affiliation:
Department of Civil Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208
J.-F. Gaillard
Affiliation:
Department of Civil Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208
D. T. Reed
Affiliation:
Chemical Technology Division (CMT), Argonne National Lab, Argonne, IL 60439, [email protected]
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Abstract

Neptunium is found predominantly as Np(IV) in reducing environments, but as Np(V) in aerobic environments. Currently, it is not known how the interplay between biotic and abiotic processes affects Np redox speciation in the environment. To evaluate the effect of anaerobic microbial activity on the fate of Np in natural systems, Np(V) was added to a microcosm inoculated with anaerobic sediments from a metal-contaminated freshwater lake. The consortium included metal-reducing, sulfate-reducing, and methanogenic microorganisms, and acetate was supplied as the only exogenous substrate. Addition of more than 10−5 M Np did not inhibit methane production. Total Np solubility in the active microcosm, as well as in sterilized control samples, decreased by nearly two orders of magnitude. A combination of analytical techniques, including VIS-NIR absorption spectroscopy and XANES, identified Np(IV) as the oxidation state associated with the sediments. The similar results from the active microcosm and the abiotic controls suggest that microbially produced Mn(II/III) and Fe(II) may serve as electron donors for Np reduction.

Type
Research Article
Information
MRS Online Proceedings Library (OPL) , Volume 556: Symposium QQ – Scientific Basis for Nuclear Waste Management XXII , 1999 , 1141
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 1999

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