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Zhang K, Foster L, Boothman C, Bassil NM, Pittman JK, Lloyd JR. Control of cyanobacterial growth with potassium; implications for bloom control in nuclear storage ponds. HARMFUL ALGAE 2024; 137:102654. [PMID: 39003020 DOI: 10.1016/j.hal.2024.102654] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2024] [Revised: 05/19/2024] [Accepted: 05/21/2024] [Indexed: 07/15/2024]
Abstract
Microbial blooms have been reported in the First Generation Magnox Storage Pond at the Sellafield Nuclear Facility. The pond is kept alkaline with NaOH to minimise fuel rod corrosion, however alkali-tolerant microbial blooms dominated by the cyanobacterium Pseudanabaena catenata are able to thrive in this hostile environment. This study assessed the impact of alternative alkali-dosing regimens (KOH versus NaOH treatment) on biomass accumulation, using a P. catenata dominated mixed culture, which is representative of the pond environment. Optical density was reduced by 40-67 % with KOH treatment over the 3-month chemostat experiment. Microbial community analysis and proteomics demonstrated that the KOH-dependent inhibition of cell growth was mostly specific to P. catenata. The addition of KOH to nuclear storage ponds may therefore help control growth of this pioneer photosynthetic organism due to its sensitivity to potassium, while maintaining the high pH needed to inhibit the corrosion of stored nuclear fuel.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kejing Zhang
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Research Centre for Radwaste Disposal and Williamson Research Centre for Molecular Environmental Science, The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK
| | - Lynn Foster
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Research Centre for Radwaste Disposal and Williamson Research Centre for Molecular Environmental Science, The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK
| | - Christopher Boothman
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Research Centre for Radwaste Disposal and Williamson Research Centre for Molecular Environmental Science, The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK
| | - Naji M Bassil
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Research Centre for Radwaste Disposal and Williamson Research Centre for Molecular Environmental Science, The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK
| | - Jon K Pittman
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Research Centre for Radwaste Disposal and Williamson Research Centre for Molecular Environmental Science, The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK
| | - Jonathan R Lloyd
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Research Centre for Radwaste Disposal and Williamson Research Centre for Molecular Environmental Science, The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK.
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Robinson C, Shaw S, Lloyd JR, Graham J, Morris K. Phosphate (Bio)mineralization Remediation of 90Sr-Contaminated Groundwaters. ACS ES&T WATER 2023; 3:3223-3234. [PMID: 37854271 PMCID: PMC10580321 DOI: 10.1021/acsestwater.3c00159] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2023] [Revised: 08/01/2023] [Accepted: 08/02/2023] [Indexed: 10/20/2023]
Abstract
Historical operations at nuclear mega-facilities such as Hanford, USA, and Sellafield, UK have led to a legacy of radioactivity-contaminated land. Calcium phosphate phases (e.g., hydroxyapatite) can adsorb and/or incorporate radionuclides, including 90Sr. Past work has shown that aqueous injection of Ca-phosphate-generating solutions into the contaminated ground on both laboratory and field scales can reduce the amount of aqueous 90Sr in the systems. Here, two microbially mediated phosphate amendment techniques which precipitated Ca-phosphate, (i) Ca-citrate/Na-phosphate and (ii) glycerol phosphate, were tested in batch experiments alongside an abiotic treatment ((iii) polyphosphate), using stable Sr and site relevant groundwaters and sediments. All three amendments led to enhanced Sr removal from the solution compared to the sediment-only control. The Ca-citrate/Na-phosphate treatment removed 97%, glycerol phosphate 60%, and polyphosphate 55% of the initial Sr. At experimental end points, scanning electron microscopy showed that Sr-containing, Ca-phosphate phases were deposited on sediment grains, and XAS analyses of the sediments amended with Ca-citrate/Na-phosphate and glycerol phosphate confirmed Sr incorporation into Ca-phosphates occurred. Overall, Ca-phosphate-generating treatments have the potential to be applied in a range of nuclear sites and are a key option within the toolkit for 90Sr groundwater remediation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Callum Robinson
- Research
Centre for Radwaste Disposal and Williamson Research Centre for Molecular
Environmental Science, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, U.K.
| | - Samuel Shaw
- Research
Centre for Radwaste Disposal and Williamson Research Centre for Molecular
Environmental Science, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, U.K.
| | - Jonathan R. Lloyd
- Research
Centre for Radwaste Disposal and Williamson Research Centre for Molecular
Environmental Science, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, U.K.
| | - James Graham
- National
Nuclear Laboratory, Sellafield, Cumbria CA20 1PG, U.K.
| | - Katherine Morris
- Research
Centre for Radwaste Disposal and Williamson Research Centre for Molecular
Environmental Science, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, U.K.
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Foster L, Boothman C, Harrison S, Jenkinson P, Pittman JK, Lloyd JR. Identification of algal rich microbial blooms in the Sellafield Pile Fuel Storage Pond and the application of ultrasonic treatment to control the formation of blooms. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1261801. [PMID: 37860139 PMCID: PMC10582928 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1261801] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2023] [Accepted: 09/19/2023] [Indexed: 10/21/2023] Open
Abstract
The presence of microorganisms in a range of nuclear facilities has been known for many years. In this study the microbial community inhabiting the Pile Fuel Storage Pond (PFSP), which is a legacy open-aired facility on the Sellafield nuclear site, Cumbria, UK, was determined to help target microbial bloom management strategies in this facility. The PFSP is currently undergoing decommissioning and the development of prolonged dense microbial blooms reduces the visibility within the water. Such impairment in the pond water visibility can lead to delays in pond operations, which also has financial implications. Efforts to control the microbial population within the PFSP are ongoing, with the installation of ultrasonic treatment units. Here next generation sequencing techniques focussing on broad targets for both eukaryotic and prokaryotic organisms were used to identify the microbial community. On-site monitoring of photosynthetic pigments indicated when microbial blooms formed and that eukaryotic algae were most likely to be responsible for these events. The sequencing data suggested that the blooms were dominated by members of the class Chrysophyceae, a group of golden algae, while evidence of cyanobacteria and other photosynthetic bacteria was limited, further supporting eukaryotic organisms causing the blooms. The results of sequencing data from 2018 was used to inform a change in the operational settings of the ultrasonic units, while monitoring of the microbial community and photosynthetic pigments trends was extended. Since the changes were made to the ultrasonic treatment, the visibility in the pond was significantly improved, with an absence of a spring bloom in 2020 and an overall reduction in the number of days lost due to microbial blooms annually. This work extends our knowledge of the diversity of microbes able to colonise nuclear fuel storage ponds, and also suggests that sequencing data can help to optimise the performance of ultrasonic treatments, to control algal proliferation in the PFSP facility and other inhospitable engineered systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lynn Foster
- Research Centre for Radwaste Disposal and Williamson Research Centre for Molecular Environmental Science, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Christopher Boothman
- Research Centre for Radwaste Disposal and Williamson Research Centre for Molecular Environmental Science, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Scott Harrison
- National Nuclear Laboratory, Central Laboratory, Sellafield, Seascale, United Kingdom
| | | | - Jon K. Pittman
- Research Centre for Radwaste Disposal and Williamson Research Centre for Molecular Environmental Science, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Jonathan R. Lloyd
- Research Centre for Radwaste Disposal and Williamson Research Centre for Molecular Environmental Science, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
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Barton F, Spencer BF, Tartèse R, Graham J, Shaw S, Morris K, Lloyd JR. The potential role of biofilms in promoting fouling formation in radioactive discharge pipelines. BIOFOULING 2023; 39:785-799. [PMID: 37877442 DOI: 10.1080/08927014.2023.2269532] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2023] [Accepted: 10/05/2023] [Indexed: 10/26/2023]
Abstract
Nuclear facility discharge pipelines accumulate inorganic and microbial fouling and radioactive contamination, however, research investigating the mechanisms that lead to their accumulation is limited. Using the Sellafield discharge pipeline as a model system, this study utilised modified Robbins devices to investigate the potential interplay between inorganic and biological processes in supporting fouling formation and radionuclide uptake. Initial experiments showed polyelectrolytes (present in pipeline effluents), had minimal effects on fouling formation. Biofilms were, however, found to be the key component promoting fouling, leading to increased uptake of inorganic particulates and metal contaminants (Cs, Sr, Co, Eu and Ru) compared to a non-biofilm control system. Biologically-mediated uptake mechanisms were implicated in Co and Ru accumulation, with a potential bioreduced Ru species identified on the biofilm system. This research emphasised the key role of biofilms in promoting fouling in discharge pipelines, advocating for the use of biocide treatments methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Franky Barton
- Research Centre for Radwaste Disposal and Williamson Research Centre for Molecular Environmental Science, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Ben F Spencer
- Henry Royce Institute and Department of Materials, School of Natural Sciences, The University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Romain Tartèse
- Research Centre for Radwaste Disposal and Williamson Research Centre for Molecular Environmental Science, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - James Graham
- National Nuclear Laboratory, Central Laboratory, Sellafield, Seascale, Cumbria, United Kingdom
| | - Samuel Shaw
- Research Centre for Radwaste Disposal and Williamson Research Centre for Molecular Environmental Science, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Katherine Morris
- Research Centre for Radwaste Disposal and Williamson Research Centre for Molecular Environmental Science, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Jonathan R Lloyd
- Research Centre for Radwaste Disposal and Williamson Research Centre for Molecular Environmental Science, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
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Zhang K, Foster L, Buchanan D, Coker VS, Pittman JK, Lloyd JR. The interplay between Cs and K in Pseudanabaena catenata; from microbial bloom control strategies to bioremediation options for radioactive waters. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2023; 445:130556. [PMID: 37055967 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2022.130556] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2022] [Revised: 11/24/2022] [Accepted: 12/03/2022] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
Pseudanabaena dominates cyanobacterial blooms in the First-Generation Magnox Storage Pond (FGMSP) at a UK nuclear site. The fission product Cs is a radiologically significant radionuclide in the pond, and understanding the interactions between Cs and Pseudanabaena spp. is therefore important for determining facility management strategies, as well as improving understanding of microbiological responses to this non-essential chemical analogue of K. This study evaluated the fate of Cs following interactions with Pseudanabaena catenata, a laboratory strain most closely related to that dominating FGMSP blooms. Experiments showed that Cs (1 mM) exposure did not affect the growth of P. catenata, while a high concentration of K (5 mM) caused a significant reduction in cell yield. Scanning transmission X-ray microscopy elemental mapping identified Cs accumulation to discrete cytoplasmic locations within P. catenata cells, indicating a potential bioremediation option for Cs. Proteins related to stress responses and nutrient limitation (K, P) were stimulated by Cs treatment. Furthermore, selected K+ transport proteins were mis-regulated by Cs dosing, which indicates the importance of the K+ transport system for Cs accumulation. These findings enhance understanding of Cs fate and biological responses within Pseudanabaena blooms, and indicate that K exposure might provide a microbial bloom control strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kejing Zhang
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Research Centre for Radwaste Disposal and Williamson Research Centre for Molecular Environmental Science, The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL, UK.
| | - Lynn Foster
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Research Centre for Radwaste Disposal and Williamson Research Centre for Molecular Environmental Science, The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL, UK
| | - Dawn Buchanan
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Research Centre for Radwaste Disposal and Williamson Research Centre for Molecular Environmental Science, The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL, UK
| | - Victoria S Coker
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Research Centre for Radwaste Disposal and Williamson Research Centre for Molecular Environmental Science, The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL, UK
| | - Jon K Pittman
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Research Centre for Radwaste Disposal and Williamson Research Centre for Molecular Environmental Science, The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL, UK
| | - Jonathan R Lloyd
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Research Centre for Radwaste Disposal and Williamson Research Centre for Molecular Environmental Science, The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL, UK.
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Sugoro I, Pikoli MR, Rahayu DS, Puspito MJ, Shalsabilla SE, Ramadhan F, Fadila DSR, Cici A, Tetriana D, Haribowo DR, Rijal MS. Microalgae Diversity in Interim Wet Storage of Spent Nuclear Fuel in Serpong, Indonesia. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:15377. [PMID: 36430090 PMCID: PMC9691152 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph192215377] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2022] [Revised: 11/14/2022] [Accepted: 11/15/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
The water quality in the interim wet storage of spent fuel (ISSF) needs to be monitored due to its function as a radiation shield. Water in ISSF pools must be free from microorganisms such as microalgae that live in a radioactive environment. Moreover, particular microalgae are capable of causing corrosion to stainless steel, which is a component of ISSF. Therefore, this study aims to determine the diversity of microalgae in the ISSF and those living in a radioactive environment, which cause corrosion. The microalgae were detected using the diversity and Palmer indices. The sampling of microalgae water was carried out by vertical filtration method at eight sites of ISSF. The results show that the diversity of microalgae (H') was low due to radiation exposure in pool water, hence, only specific species can survive. The evenness (J') of the microalgae was low, causing a high dominance index (C) value. Furthermore, the dominating species, namely, Chlorella sp. (Chlorophyceae), needs to be monitored because it has gamma radioresistance capabilities and can cause the corrosion of stainless steel.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irawan Sugoro
- Research Organization for Nuclear Energy, National Research and Innovation Agency, Jakarta 12400, Indonesia
| | - Megga Ratnasari Pikoli
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universitas Islam Negeri Syarif Hidayatullah, Jakarta 15412, Indonesia
| | - Dyah Sulistyani Rahayu
- Research Organization for Nuclear Energy, National Research and Innovation Agency, Jakarta 12400, Indonesia
| | - Marhaeni Joko Puspito
- Research Organization for Nuclear Energy, National Research and Innovation Agency, Jakarta 12400, Indonesia
| | - Syalwa Ersadiwi Shalsabilla
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universitas Islam Negeri Syarif Hidayatullah, Jakarta 15412, Indonesia
| | - Firdaus Ramadhan
- National Institute of Science and Technology, Jakarta 12630, Indonesia
| | - Diannisa Syahwa Rahma Fadila
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universitas Islam Negeri Syarif Hidayatullah, Jakarta 15412, Indonesia
| | - Ade Cici
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universitas Islam Negeri Syarif Hidayatullah, Jakarta 15412, Indonesia
| | - Devita Tetriana
- Research Organization for Nuclear Energy, National Research and Innovation Agency, Jakarta 12400, Indonesia
| | - Dinda Rama Haribowo
- Center for Integrated Laboratory, Universitas Islam Negeri Syarif Hidayatullah, Banten 15412, Indonesia
| | - Mohammad Syamsul Rijal
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universitas Islam Negeri Syarif Hidayatullah, Jakarta 15412, Indonesia
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Barton F, Shaw S, Morris K, Graham J, Lloyd JR. Impact and control of fouling in radioactive environments. PROGRESS IN NUCLEAR ENERGY 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.pnucene.2022.104215] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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Cyanobacterial Extracellular Polymeric Substances for Heavy Metal Removal: A Mini Review. JOURNAL OF COMPOSITES SCIENCE 2020. [DOI: 10.3390/jcs5010001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Heavy metals from various natural and anthropogenic sources are becoming a chief threat to the aquatic system owing to their toxic and lethal effect. The treatment of such contaminated wastewater is one of the prime concerns in this field. For decades, a huge array of innovative biosorbents is used for heavy metal removal. Though extensive microbes and their biomolecules have been experimented and have showed great potential but most of them have failed to have the substantial breakthrough for the practical application. The present review emphasis on the potential utilization of the cyanobacteria for the heavy metal removal along with the toxic effect imposed by the pollutant. Furthermore, the effect of significant parameters, plausible mechanistic insights of the heavy metal toxicity imposed onto the cyanobacteria is also discussed in detail. The role of extrapolymeric substances and metallothionein secreted by the microbes are also elaborated. The review was evident that the cyanobacterial species have a huge potential towards the heavy metal removal from the aqueous system ranging from very low to very high concentrations.
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Vojvodić S, Luković JD, Zechmann B, Jevtović M, Pristov JB, Stanić M, Lizzul AM, Pittman JK, Spasojević I. The effects of ionizing radiation on the structure and antioxidative and metal-binding capacity of the cell wall of microalga Chlorella sorokiniana. CHEMOSPHERE 2020; 260:127553. [PMID: 32653748 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2020.127553] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2020] [Revised: 06/20/2020] [Accepted: 06/28/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
The impact of ionizing radiation on microorganisms such as microalgae is a topic of increasing importance for understanding the dynamics of aquatic ecosystems in response to environmental radiation, and for the development of efficient approaches for bioremediation of mining and nuclear power plants wastewaters. Currently, nothing is known about the effects of ionizing radiation on the microalgal cell wall, which represents the first line of defence against chemical and physical environmental stresses. Using various microscopy, spectroscopy and biochemical techniques we show that the unicellular alga Chlorella sorokiniana elicits a fast response to ionizing radiation. Within one day after irradiation with doses of 1-5 Gy, the fibrilar layer of the cell wall became thicker, the fraction of uronic acids was higher, and the capacity to remove the main reactive product of water radiolysis increased. In addition, the isolated cell wall fraction showed significant binding capacity for Cu2+, Mn2+, and Cr3+. The irradiation further increased the binding capacity for Cu2+, which appears to be mainly bound to glucosamine moieties within a chitosan-like polymer in the outer rigid layer of the wall. These results imply that the cell wall represents a dynamic structure that is involved in the protective response of microalgae to ionizing radiation. It appears that microalgae may exhibit a significant control of metal mobility in aquatic ecosystems via biosorption by the cell wall matrix.
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Affiliation(s)
- Snežana Vojvodić
- Department of Life Sciences, Institute for Multidisciplinary Research, University of Belgrade, Kneza Višeslava 1, 11030, Belgrade, Serbia.
| | - Jelena Danilović Luković
- Department of Life Sciences, Institute for Multidisciplinary Research, University of Belgrade, Kneza Višeslava 1, 11030, Belgrade, Serbia; Institute for Application of Nuclear Energy, University of Belgrade, Banatska 31b, 11080, Belgrade-Zemun, Serbia.
| | - Bernd Zechmann
- Center for Microscopy and Imaging, Baylor University, One Bear Place 97046, Waco, TX, USA.
| | - Mima Jevtović
- Department of Life Sciences, Institute for Multidisciplinary Research, University of Belgrade, Kneza Višeslava 1, 11030, Belgrade, Serbia; Faculty of Chemistry, University of Belgrade, Studentski Trg 12-16, 11001, Belgrade, Serbia.
| | - Jelena Bogdanović Pristov
- Department of Life Sciences, Institute for Multidisciplinary Research, University of Belgrade, Kneza Višeslava 1, 11030, Belgrade, Serbia.
| | - Marina Stanić
- Department of Life Sciences, Institute for Multidisciplinary Research, University of Belgrade, Kneza Višeslava 1, 11030, Belgrade, Serbia.
| | | | - Jon K Pittman
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, School of Natural Sciences, University of Manchester, Michael Smith Building, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PT, UK.
| | - Ivan Spasojević
- Department of Life Sciences, Institute for Multidisciplinary Research, University of Belgrade, Kneza Višeslava 1, 11030, Belgrade, Serbia.
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Ruiz-Lopez S, Foster L, Boothman C, Cole N, Morris K, Lloyd JR. Identification of a Stable Hydrogen-Driven Microbiome in a Highly Radioactive Storage Facility on the Sellafield Site. Front Microbiol 2020; 11:587556. [PMID: 33329459 PMCID: PMC7732693 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.587556] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2020] [Accepted: 10/26/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The use of nuclear power has been a significant part of the United Kingdom’s energy portfolio with the Sellafield site being used for power production and more recently reprocessing and decommissioning of spent nuclear fuel activities. Before being reprocessed, spent nuclear fuel is stored in water ponds with significant levels of background radioactivity and in high alkalinity (to minimize fuel corrosion). Despite these challenging conditions, the presence of microbial communities has been detected. To gain further insight into the microbial communities present in extreme environments, an indoor, hyper-alkaline, oligotrophic, and radioactive spent fuel storage pond (INP) located on the Sellafield site was analyzed. Water samples were collected from sample points within the INP complex, and also the purge water feeding tank (FT) that supplies water to the pond, and were screened for the presence of the 16S and 18S rRNA genes to inform sequencing requirements over a period of 30 months. Only 16S rRNA genes were successfully amplified for sequencing, suggesting that the microbial communities in the INP were dominated by prokaryotes. Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction (qPCR) analysis targeting 16S rRNA genes suggested that bacterial cells in the order of 104–106 mL–1 were present in the samples, with loadings rising with time. Next generation Illumina MiSeq sequencing was performed to identify the dominant microorganisms at eight sampling times. The 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis suggested that 70% and 91% from of the OTUs samples, from the FT and INP respectively, belonged to the phylum Proteobacteria, mainly from the alpha and beta subclasses. The remaining OTUs were assigned primarily to the phyla Acidobacteria, Bacteroidetes, and, Cyanobacteria. Overall the most abundant genera identified were Hydrogenophaga, Curvibacter, Porphyrobacter, Rhodoferax, Polaromonas, Sediminibacterium, Roseococcus, and Sphingomonas. The presence of organisms most closely related to Hydrogenophaga species in the INP areas, suggests the metabolism of hydrogen as an energy source, most likely linked to hydrolysis of water caused by the stored fuel. Isolation of axenic cultures using a range of minimal and rich media was also attempted, but only relatively minor components (from the phylum Bacteroidetes) of the pond water communities were obtained, emphasizing the importance of DNA-based, not culture-dependent techniques, for assessing the microbiome of nuclear facilities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sharon Ruiz-Lopez
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Manchester (UoM), Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Lynn Foster
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Manchester (UoM), Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Chris Boothman
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Manchester (UoM), Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Nick Cole
- Sellafield Ltd., Warrington, United Kingdom
| | - Katherine Morris
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Manchester (UoM), Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Jonathan R Lloyd
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Manchester (UoM), Manchester, United Kingdom
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