title: Phosphate promotes uranium (VI) adsorption in Staphylococcus aureus LZ-01.
abstract: Staphylococcus aureus LZ-01 was isolated from the Yellow River upstream from Lanzhou which can resist and reduce chromium (VI) to chromium (III). In this study, strain LZ-01's uranium (VI) resistance and adsorption abilities were investigated. Our results showed that it can resist 2 mmol l(-1) U(VI) and adsorb 96% of 2 mmol l(-1) U(VI) after 6 h incubation. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images showed that precipitates were formed on the surface of the cells. Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) analysis indicated that the precipitates contained uranium and phosphorus. The U(VI) adsorption rate of strain LZ-01 was promoted by 20 mmol l(-1) phosphate. It adsorbed 45% of 2·5 mmol l(-1) U(VI) in 30 min compared to 36% without phosphate (P < 0·05). Strain LZ-01 can resist heavy metals and survive in nuclear waste-contaminated environments. Strain LZ-01 might be a potential candidate for nuclear waste remediation with phosphate added.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Staphylococcus aureus LZ-01 can resist 2 mmol l(-1) U(VI). It could adsorb more than 90% of the 2 mmol l(-1) U(VI) in 6 h. Uranium is precipitated with phosphorus on the surface of the cells. Phosphate promotes uranium adsorption in strain LZ-01, and its U(VI) adsorption capacity is related to its cell availability. These results indicate that the strain LZ-01 might be a potential candidate for remediation of nuclear waste when phosphate is added.
authors: Gansu Key Laboratory of Biomonitoring and Bioremediation for Environmental Pollution, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu, China.
authors: L
authors: L
authors: Zou
authors: Z
authors: Z
authors: Chen
authors: X
authors: X
authors: Zhang
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Liu
authors: X
authors: X
authors: Li
mesh_terms: D000327:Adsorption; D010710:Phosphates / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011836:Radiation Tolerance; D045483:Rivers / Q000382:microbiology; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000528:radiation effects; D014501:Uranium / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D010710:Phosphates; D014501:Uranium
keywords: Staphylococcus aureus LZ-01; U(VI) adsorption; U(VI) reduction; U(VI) resistance; aerobic U(VI) remediation