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Microorganisms
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Microorganisms and Hazardous Waste: Insights into Bioremediation and Safe Disposal
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Microorganisms and Hazardous Waste: Insights into Bioremediation and Safe Disposal

A special issue of Microorganisms (ISSN 2076-2607). This special issue belongs to the section "Environmental Microbiology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 April 2024) | Viewed by 12658

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Fadwa Jroundi

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Granada, 18071 Granada, Spain
Interests: nuclear waste; uranium; deep geological disposal; heavy metals; bioremediation
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Cristina Povedano-Priego

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Granada, 18071 Granada, Spain
Interests: Nuclear waste; Uranium; Deep Geological disposal; Heavy metals; Bioremediation
Dr. Mohamed Larbi Merroun

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Granada, 18071 Granada, Spain
Interests: nuclear waste; uranium; deep geological disposal; heavy metals; bioremediation

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Increased interest in nuclear energy has led to proposals for renewed interest in the development of uranium resources. However, decades of nuclear activities have left a considerable heritage of environmental contamination. In addition, this is the most important source of radioactive wastes that have to be managed safely and economically.

Microorganisms are proposed as an eco-friendly solution for the remediation of radioactive waste environments. By their metabolism, they have the potential to alter the solubility of a broad range of priority radionuclides, including uranium, other actinides and fission products. Additionally, biogeochemical–microbial interactions play a crucial role in controlling the speciation and mobility of such elements, through direct metabolic mechanisms, or indirectly by changing ambient redox/pH conditions.

Many advances have been performed to elucidate these mechanisms. Nevertheless, there is still an urgent requirement to explore concepts for practicable technologies that can be applied to these ends.

It is necessary to expand and intensify studies about microbe–hazardous waste interactions, for example, how they may control radionuclide (especially uranium) mobility, and how they can be applied to bioremediate hazardous pollutants.

This Special Issue thus welcomes research on all these challenges. We look forward to your valuable contributions.

Dr. Fadwa Jroundi
Dr. Cristina Povedano-Priego
Dr. Mohamed Larbi Merroun
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Microorganisms is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • hazardous waste
  • radioactive waste
  • bioremediation biotechnologies
  • omic approach
  • radionuclide remediation
  • deep geological repository
  • microbial impacts
  • microbial interactions
  • microbial ecology
  • bioreduction
  • biomineralization
  • metal resistant microorganisms

Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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14 pages, 1705 KiB  
Article
First Isolation and Characterization of Bacteria from the Core’s Cooling Pool of an Operating Nuclear Reactor
by Pauline Petit, Karim Hayoun, Béatrice Alpha-Bazin, Jean Armengaud and Corinne Rivasseau
Microorganisms 2023, 11(8), 1871; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms11081871 - 25 Jul 2023
Viewed by 1148
Abstract
Microbial life can thrive in the most inhospitable places, such as nuclear facilities with high levels of ionizing radiation. Using direct meta-analyses, we have previously highlighted the presence of bacteria belonging to twenty-five different genera in the highly radioactive water of the cooling [...] Read more.
Microbial life can thrive in the most inhospitable places, such as nuclear facilities with high levels of ionizing radiation. Using direct meta-analyses, we have previously highlighted the presence of bacteria belonging to twenty-five different genera in the highly radioactive water of the cooling pool of an operating nuclear reactor core. In the present study, we further characterize this specific environment by isolating and identifying some of these microorganisms and assessing their radiotolerance and their ability to decontaminate uranium. This metal is one of the major radioactive contaminants of anthropogenic origin in the environment due to the nuclear and mining industries and agricultural practices. The microorganisms isolated when sampling was performed during the reactor operation consisted mainly of Actinobacteria and Firmicutes, whereas Proteobacteria were dominant when sampling was performed during the reactor shutdown. We investigated their tolerance to gamma radiation under different conditions. Most of the bacterial strains studied were able to survive 200 Gy irradiation. Some were even able to withstand 1 kGy, with four of them showing more than 10% survival at this dose. We also assessed their uranium uptake capacity. Seven strains were able to remove almost all the uranium from a 5 µM solution. Four strains displayed high efficiency in decontaminating a 50 µM uranium solution, demonstrating promising potential for use in bioremediation processes in environments contaminated by radionuclides. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Microorganisms and Hazardous Waste: Insights into Bioremediation and Safe Disposal)
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16 pages, 10300 KiB  
Article
Microbial Influence on the Mobility of +3 Actinides from a Salt-Based Nuclear Waste Repository
by Julie Swanson, Adrianne Navarrette, Jandi Knox, Hannah Kim and Floyd Stanley
Microorganisms 2023, 11(6), 1370; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms11061370 - 24 May 2023
Viewed by 868
Abstract
Biologically enhanced transport of radionuclides is one of several processes that can affect the performance of a nuclear waste repository. In this work, several microbial isolates from the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) were tested for their influence on the concentration of neodymium, [...] Read more.
Biologically enhanced transport of radionuclides is one of several processes that can affect the performance of a nuclear waste repository. In this work, several microbial isolates from the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) were tested for their influence on the concentration of neodymium, as an analog for +3 actinides, in simple sodium chloride solutions and in anoxic WIPP brines. Batch sorption experiments were carried out over a period of 4–5 weeks. In many cases, the effect on neodymium in solution was immediate and extensive and assumed to be due to surface complexation. However, over time, the continued loss of Nd from the solution was more likely due to biologically induced precipitation and/or mineralization and possible entrapment in extracellular polymeric substances. The results showed no correlation between organism type and the extent of its influence on neodymium in solution. However, a correlation was observed between different test matrices (simple NaCl versus high-magnesium brine versus high-NaCl brine). Further experiments were conducted to test these matrix effects, and the results showed a significant effect of magnesium concentration on the ability of microorganisms to remove Nd from solution. Possible mechanisms include cation competition and the alteration of cell surface structures. This suggests that the aqueous chemistry of the WIPP environs could play a larger role in the final disposition of +3 actinides than the microbiology. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Microorganisms and Hazardous Waste: Insights into Bioremediation and Safe Disposal)
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19 pages, 2814 KiB  
Article
Microorganisms for Bioremediation of Soils Contaminated with Heavy Metals
by Victor V. Atuchin, Lyudmila K. Asyakina, Yulia R. Serazetdinova, Anna S. Frolova, Natalia S. Velichkovich and Alexander Yu. Prosekov
Microorganisms 2023, 11(4), 864; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms11040864 - 28 Mar 2023
Cited by 21 | Viewed by 9235
Abstract
Heavy-metal contaminants are one of the most relevant problems of contemporary agriculture. High toxicity and the ability to accumulate in soils and crops pose a serious threat to food security. To solve this problem, it is necessary to accelerate the pace of restoration [...] Read more.
Heavy-metal contaminants are one of the most relevant problems of contemporary agriculture. High toxicity and the ability to accumulate in soils and crops pose a serious threat to food security. To solve this problem, it is necessary to accelerate the pace of restoration of disturbed agricultural lands. Bioremediation is an effective treatment for agricultural soil pollution. It relies on the ability of microorganisms to remove pollutants. The purpose of this study is to create a consortium based on microorganisms isolated from technogenic sites for further development in the field of soil restoration in agriculture. In the study, promising strains that can remove heavy metals from experimental media were selected: Pantoea sp., Achromobacter denitrificans, Klebsiella oxytoca, Rhizobium radiobacter, and Pseudomonas fluorescens. On their basis, consortiums were compiled, which were investigated for the ability to remove heavy metals from nutrient media, as well as to produce phytohormones. The most effective was Consortium D, which included Achromobacter denitrificans, Klebsiella oxytoca, and Rhizobium radiobacter in a ratio of 1:1:2, respectively. The ability of this consortium to produce indole-3-acetic acid and indole-3-butyric acid was 18.03 μg/L and 2.02 μg/L, respectively; the absorption capacity for heavy metals from the experimental media was Cd (56.39 mg/L), Hg (58.03 mg/L), As (61.17 mg/L), Pb (91.13 mg/L), and Ni (98.22 mg/L). Consortium D has also been found to be effective in conditions of mixed heavy-metal contamination. Due to the fact that the further use of the consortium will be focused on the soil of agricultural land cleanup, its ability to intensify the process of phytoremediation has been studied. The combined use of Trifolium pratense L. and the developed consortium ensured the removal of about 32% Pb, 15% As, 13% Hg, 31% Ni, and 25% Cd from the soil. Further research will be aimed at developing a biological product to improve the efficiency of remediation of lands withdrawn from agricultural use. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Microorganisms and Hazardous Waste: Insights into Bioremediation and Safe Disposal)
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Review

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24 pages, 2858 KiB  
Review
Insights into the Impact of Physicochemical and Microbiological Parameters on the Safety Performance of Deep Geological Repositories
by Mar Morales-Hidalgo, Cristina Povedano-Priego, Marcos F. Martinez-Moreno, Miguel A. Ruiz-Fresneda, Margarita Lopez-Fernandez, Fadwa Jroundi and Mohamed L. Merroun
Microorganisms 2024, 12(5), 1025; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms12051025 - 19 May 2024
Viewed by 636
Abstract
Currently, the production of radioactive waste from nuclear industries is increasing, leading to the development of reliable containment strategies. The deep geological repository (DGR) concept has emerged as a suitable storage solution, involving the underground emplacement of nuclear waste within stable geological formations. [...] Read more.
Currently, the production of radioactive waste from nuclear industries is increasing, leading to the development of reliable containment strategies. The deep geological repository (DGR) concept has emerged as a suitable storage solution, involving the underground emplacement of nuclear waste within stable geological formations. Bentonite clay, known for its exceptional properties, serves as a critical artificial barrier in the DGR system. Recent studies have suggested the stability of bentonite within DGR relevant conditions, indicating its potential to enhance the long-term safety performance of the repository. On the other hand, due to its high resistance to corrosion, copper is one of the most studied reference materials for canisters. This review provides a comprehensive perspective on the influence of nuclear waste conditions on the characteristics and properties of DGR engineered barriers. This paper outlines how evolving physico-chemical parameters (e.g., temperature, radiation) in a nuclear repository may impact these barriers over the lifespan of a repository and emphasizes the significance of understanding the impact of microbial processes, especially in the event of radionuclide leakage (e.g., U, Se) or canister corrosion. Therefore, this review aims to address the long-term safety of future DGRs, which is critical given the complexity of such future systems. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Microorganisms and Hazardous Waste: Insights into Bioremediation and Safe Disposal)
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