Published online by Cambridge University Press: 10 February 2011
Biotic Np(V) reduction is studied in light of its potential role for the environmental immobilization of this hazardous radionuclide. The speciation of Np in Desulfovibrio desulfuricans cultures is compared with Np speciation in the spent medium and in the uninoculated medium. Precipitates formed in all three samples. Optical spectroscopy, x-ray diffraction, and x-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) were used to determine the Np speciation. After 5 days of incubation, there was very little Np left in solution, which was present as Np(V). The precipitate that formed in all samples is an amorphous Np(IV) species, establishing that Np(V) is almost quantitatively reduced. These results demonstrate that the reduction of Np is independent of Desulfovibrio desulfuricans. The underlying chemistry associated with these results is discussed.