Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT) (방사성폐기물학회지)

Korean Radioactive Waste Society (한국방사성폐기물학회)
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Bioremediation Options for Nuclear Sites a Review of an Emerging Technology

  • Robinson, Callum (Research Centre for Radwaste Disposal and Williamson Research Centre for Molecular Environmental Science, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of Manchester) ;
  • White-Pettigrew, Matthew (Research Centre for Radwaste Disposal and Williamson Research Centre for Molecular Environmental Science, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of Manchester) ;
  • Shaw, Samuel (Research Centre for Radwaste Disposal and Williamson Research Centre for Molecular Environmental Science, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of Manchester) ;
  • Morris, Katherine (Research Centre for Radwaste Disposal and Williamson Research Centre for Molecular Environmental Science, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of Manchester) ;
  • Graham, James (National Nuclear Laboratory, Central Laboratory) ;
  • Lloyd, Jonathan R. (Research Centre for Radwaste Disposal and Williamson Research Centre for Molecular Environmental Science, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of Manchester)
  • Received : 2022.05.18
  • Accepted : 2022.08.09
  • Published : 2022.09.30
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Abstract

60+ Years of nuclear power generation has led to a significant legacy of radioactively contaminated land at a number of nuclear licenced "mega sites" around the world. The safe management and remediation of these sites is key to ensuring there environmental stewardship in the long term. Bioremediation utilizes a variety of microbially mediated processes such as, enzymatically driven metal reduction or biominerialisation, to sequester radioactive contaminants from the subsurface limiting their migration through the geosphere. Additionally, some of these process can provide environmentally stable sinks for radioactive contaminants, through formation of highly insoluble mineral phases such as calcium phosphates and carbonates, which can incorporate a range of radionuclides into their structure. Bioremediation options have been considered and deployed in preference to conventional remediation techniques at a number of nuclear "mega" sites. Here, we review the applications of bioremediation technologies at three key nuclear licenced sites; Rifle and Hanford, USA and Sellafield, UK, in the remediation of radioactively contaminated land.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

We acknowledge financial support from EPSRC, National Nuclear Laboratory and the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority through EPSRC ICASE PhD studentship (CR; 19000127) and NDA PhD Bursary (MWP; EP/S022295/1). We also acknowledge access to the EPSRC NNUF RADER Facility (EP/T011300/1) for CR and MWP in their projects.

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