title: Development and characterization of biofilms on stainless steel and titanium in spent nuclear fuel pools.
abstract: The aim of the present research was to study the biofilms developed in a Spanish nuclear power plant and their ability to entrap radionuclides. In order to carry this out, a bioreactor, which was then submerged in a spent nuclear fuel pool, was designed. To characterise the biofilm on two different metallic materials (stainless steel and titanium), standard culture microbiological methods and molecular biology tools, as well as epifluorescence and scanning electron microscopy were used. The bacterial composition of the biofilm belongs to several phylogenetic groups (alpha, beta, and gamma-Proteobacteria, Actinobacteridae, and Firmicutes). The radioactivity of the biofilms was measured by gamma-ray spectrometry. Biofilms were able to retain radionuclides from radioactive water, especially (60)Co. The potential use of these biofilms in bioremediation of radioactive water is discussed.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Ingeniería y Ciencia de los Materiales, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (UPM), Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingenieros Industriales, José Gutiérrez Abascal 2, 28006, Madrid, Spain. diego.moreno@upm.es
authors.forename: M Isabel
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Sarró
authors.forename: Ana M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: García
authors.forename: Diego A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Moreno
authors.forename: Felipe
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Montero
mesh_terms: D001419:Bacteria / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development; D001431:Bacteriological Techniques; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D018441:Biofilms / Q000145:classification / Q000254:growth & development; D019149:Bioreactors; D003037:Cobalt Radioisotopes / Q000378:metabolism; D003470:Culture Media; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D011210:Power Plants; D020560:Proteobacteria / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / Q000235:genetics; D011850:Radioactive Waste; D011851:Radioactivity; D011868:Radioisotopes / Q000378:metabolism; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D013193:Stainless Steel; D014025:Titanium; D014871:Water Microbiology; D014878:Water Pollution, Radioactive / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D003037:Cobalt Radioisotopes; D003470:Culture Media; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S; D011850:Radioactive Waste; D011868:Radioisotopes; D013193:Stainless Steel; D014025:Titanium