Researchers have demonstrated that bacteria can convert uranium dissolved in water into a stable chemical compound when supplied with glycerol [1].
This discovery provides a potential biological pathway for mitigating the spread of radioactive contaminants in groundwater. By transforming soluble uranium into a stable form, the process could prevent toxins from migrating through soil and water systems.
The study was conducted by researchers at the Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), in collaboration with Wismut GmbH and scientists from the University of Granada in Spain [1, 2]. The team found that the bacteria required glycerol to serve as a food source to facilitate the chemical conversion [1].
According to the research, the process takes 130 days [1, 2]. This timeframe allows the bacteria to process the dissolved uranium and lock it into a stable compound that is less likely to move through the environment [1].
"Researchers at the Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), together with Wismut GmbH and scientists from the University of Granada in Spain, have demonstrated for the first time that bacteria can convert uranium dissolved in water into a stable chemical compound when they have access to glycerol as a food source," researchers said [1].
The collaboration between German and Spanish institutions focused on the biochemical interaction between the microorganisms and the heavy metal. The stability of the resulting compound is the primary goal, as dissolved uranium is significantly more mobile and dangerous to surrounding ecosystems [2, 3].
Scientists said, "This discovery could support future environmental cleanup" [3].
“Bacteria can convert uranium dissolved in water into a stable chemical compound.”
The ability to immobilize uranium using biological agents suggests a shift toward bioremediation for nuclear waste sites. If glycerol-fed bacteria can be deployed at scale, it may reduce the need for invasive mechanical dredging or expensive chemical treatments to stop the migration of radioactive plumes in groundwater.
