title: Photosynthetic biomineralization of radioactive Sr via microalgal CO2 absorption.
abstract: Water-soluble radiostrontium ((90)Sr) was efficiently removed as a carbonate form through microalgal photosynthetic process. The immobilization of soluble (90)Sr radionuclide and production of highly-precipitable radio-strontianite ((90)SrCO3) biomineral are achieved by using Chlorella vulgaris, and the biologically induced mineralization drastically decreased the (90)Sr radioactivity in water to make the highest (90)Sr removal ever reported. The high-resolution microscopy revealed that the short-term removal of soluble (90)Sr by C. vulgaris was attributable to the rapid and selective carbonation of (90)Sr together with the consumption of dissolved CO2 during photosynthesis. A small amount of carbonate in water could act as Sr(2+) sinks through the particular ability of the microalga to make the carbonate mineral of Sr stabilized firmly at the surface site.
authors.affiliation: Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute, Yuseong-Gu, Daejeon 305-353, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: seungylee@kaeri.re.kr.
authors.forename: Seung Yeop
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Life Science, Sogang University, 35 Baekbeom-ro, Mapo-Gu, Seoul 121-742, Republic of Korea; Department of Interdisciplinary Program of Integrated Biotechnology, Sogang University, 35 Baekbeom-ro, Mapo-Gu, Seoul 121-742, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Kwang-Hwan
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Sogang University, 35 Baekbeom-ro, Mapo-Gu, Seoul 121-742, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Ju Eun
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Life Science, Sogang University, 35 Baekbeom-ro, Mapo-Gu, Seoul 121-742, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Keon Ah
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Interdisciplinary Program of Integrated Biotechnology, Sogang University, 35 Baekbeom-ro, Mapo-Gu, Seoul 121-742, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Sang-Hyo
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute, Yuseong-Gu, Daejeon 305-353, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Ji Young
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute, Yuseong-Gu, Daejeon 305-353, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jae Kwang
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute, Yuseong-Gu, Daejeon 305-353, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jong Tae
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Jeong
authors.affiliation: Department of Interdisciplinary Program of Integrated Biotechnology, Sogang University, 35 Baekbeom-ro, Mapo-Gu, Seoul 121-742, Republic of Korea; Department of Mechanical Engineering, Sogang University, 35 Baekbeom-ro, Mapo-Gu, Seoul 121-742, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: sylee@sogang.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Seung-Yop
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D065567:Absorption, Physiological / Q000502:physiology; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000378:metabolism*; D002254:Carbonates / Q000378:metabolism*; D048408:Chlorella vulgaris / Q000502:physiology* / Q000528:radiation effects; D008027:Light; D008903:Minerals / Q000378:metabolism; D010788:Photosynthesis / Q000502:physiology* / Q000528:radiation effects; D013324:Strontium / Q000378:metabolism*; D013326:Strontium Radioisotopes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism*; D014875:Water Pollutants, Radioactive / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism*; D018508:Water Purification / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D002254:Carbonates; D008903:Minerals; D013326:Strontium Radioisotopes; D014875:Water Pollutants, Radioactive; D002245:Carbon Dioxide; C054286:strontium carbonate; D013324:Strontium
keywords: Biomineral; Chlorella vulgaris; Microalgae; Photosynthesis; Radiostrontium