Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-lj6df Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-10T09:33:04.147Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Enumeration of Microbial Populations in Radioactive Environments by Epifluorescence Microscopy

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 September 2012

M. E. Pansoy-Hjelvik ,
B. A. Strietelmeier ,
M. T. Paffett ,
S. M. Kitten ,
P. A. Leonard ,
M. Dunn ,
J. B. Gillow ,
C. J. Dodge ,
R. Villarreal  and
I. R. Triay
...Show all authors
M. E. Pansoy-Hjelvik
Affiliation:
Los Alamos National Laboratory, CST-7 MS J514, Los Alamos, NM 87544, meph@lanl.gov.
B. A. Strietelmeier
Affiliation:
Los Alamos National Laboratory, CST-7 MS J514, Los Alamos, NM 87544, meph@lanl.gov.
M. T. Paffett
Affiliation:
Los Alamos National Laboratory, CST-7 MS J514, Los Alamos, NM 87544, meph@lanl.gov.
S. M. Kitten
Affiliation:
Los Alamos National Laboratory, CST-7 MS J514, Los Alamos, NM 87544, meph@lanl.gov.
P. A. Leonard
Affiliation:
Los Alamos National Laboratory, CST-7 MS J514, Los Alamos, NM 87544, meph@lanl.gov.
M. Dunn
Affiliation:
Brookhaven National Laboratory, PO 5000, Bldg. 318, Upton, NY 11973
J. B. Gillow
Affiliation:
Brookhaven National Laboratory, PO 5000, Bldg. 318, Upton, NY 11973
C. J. Dodge
Affiliation:
Brookhaven National Laboratory, PO 5000, Bldg. 318, Upton, NY 11973
R. Villarreal
Affiliation:
Los Alamos National Laboratory, CST-7 MS J514, Los Alamos, NM 87544, meph@lanl.gov.
I. R. Triay
Affiliation:
Los Alamos National Laboratory, CST-7 MS J514, Los Alamos, NM 87544, meph@lanl.gov.
A. J. Francis
Affiliation:
Brookhaven National Laboratory, PO 5000, Bldg. 318, Upton, NY 11973
Get access

Abstract

Epifluorescence microscopy was utilized to enumerate halophilic bacterial populations in two studies involving inoculated, actual radioactive waste/brine mixtures and pure brine solutions. The studies include an initial set of experiments designed to elucidate potential transformations of actinide-containing wastes under salt-repository conditions, including microbially mediated changes.

The first study included periodic enumeration of bacterial populations of a mixed inoculum initially added to a collection of test containers. The contents of the test containers are the different types of actual radioactive waste that could potentially be stored in nuclear waste repositories in a salt environment. The transuranic waste was generated from materials used in actinide laboratory research. The results show that cell numbers decreased with time. Sorption of the bacteria to solid surfaces in the test system is discussed as a possible mechanism for the decrease in cell numbers.

The second study was designed to determine radiological and/or chemical effects of 239Pu, 243Am, 237Np, 232Th and 238U on the growth of pure and mixed anaerobic, denitrifying bacterial cultures in brine media. Pu, Am, and Np isotopes at concentrations of ≤1×10–5M, ≤5×10–6M and ≤5×10-4 M respectively, and Th and U isotopes at concentrations of ≤4×10-3 M were tested in these media. The results indicate that high actinide concentrations affected both the bacterial growth rate and morphology. However, relatively minor effects from Am were observed at all tested concentrations with the pure culture.

Type
Research Article
Information
MRS Online Proceedings Library (OPL) , Volume 465: Symposium II – Scienfific Basis for Nuclear Waste Management XX , 1996 , 941
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 1997

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

1. Strietelmeier, B.A., Gillow, J.B., Dodge, C.J., Pansoy-Hjelvik, M.E., Kitten, S.M., Leonard, P.A., Triay, I.R., Francis, A.J. and Papenguth, H.W., in Radionuclide Speciation in Real Systems, edited by Reed, , Clark, and Rao, (Am. Chem. Soc. Proc, Orlando, FL, 1996), in press.Google Scholar
2. Gillow, J.B., Strietelmeier, B.A., Dodge, C.J., Mantione, K., Dunn, M., Francis, A.J., Pansoy-Hjelvik, M.E., Kitten, S.M., Triay, I.R. and Papenguth, H.W., in Radionuclide Speciation in Real Systems, edited by Reed, , Clark, and Rao, (Am. Chem. Soc. Proc, Orlando, FL, 1996), in press;Google Scholar
3. Francis, A.J., Experentia 46, 840 (1990).10.1007/BF01935535Google Scholar
4. Francis, A.J. and Gillow, J.B., Sandia National Laboratory Report No. SAND93–7036 (1994).Google Scholar
5. a) Villarreal, R. and Phillips, M.L.F., Los Alamos National Laboratory Test Plan No. CLS1-STP-SOP5–012/0 (1993).Google Scholar
b) Phillips, M.L.F. and Molecke, M.A., Sandia National Laboratory Report No. SAND91–2111 (1993).Google Scholar
6. Gillow, J.B. and Francis, A.J., Brookhaven National Laboratory Report No. BNL-45756 (1990).Google Scholar
7. Francis, A.J., Joshi-Tope, G., Gillow, J.B. and Dodge, C.J., Brookhaven National Laboratory Report No. BNL -49737 (1994).Google Scholar
8. Kapitza, H.G., Microscopy from the Very Beginning, edited by Lichtenberg, S. (Carl Zeiss, Oberkochen, 1994), p. 23.Google Scholar
9. Kepner, R.L. Jr., and Pratt, J.R., Microbiol. Rev. 58, 603 (1994).Google Scholar
10. Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater. edited by Greenberg, A.E., Clesceri, L.S., Eaton, A.D. (American Public Health Association, Washington, 1992), pp. 9–39–9–40.Google Scholar
11. Bar-Or, Y., Experientia 46, 823 (1990).10.1007/BF01935532Google Scholar
12. Dawson, M.P., Humphrey, B.A. and Marshall, K.C., Curr. Microbiol. 6, 195 (1981).10.1007/BF01566971Google Scholar
13. Kjelleberg, S. and Hermansson, M., Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 48, 497 (1984).Google Scholar