title: Biodegradation of the alkaline cellulose degradation products generated during radioactive waste disposal.
abstract: The anoxic, alkaline hydrolysis of cellulosic materials generates a range of cellulose degradation products (CDP) including α and β forms of isosaccharinic acid (ISA) and is expected to occur in radioactive waste disposal sites receiving intermediate level radioactive wastes. The generation of ISA's is of particular relevance to the disposal of these wastes since they are able to form complexes with radioelements such as Pu enhancing their migration. This study demonstrates that microbial communities present in near-surface anoxic sediments are able to degrade CDP including both forms of ISA via iron reduction, sulphate reduction and methanogenesis, without any prior exposure to these substrates. No significant difference (n = 6, p = 0.118) in α and β ISA degradation rates were seen under either iron reducing, sulphate reducing or methanogenic conditions, giving an overall mean degradation rate of 4.7 × 10(-2) hr(-1) (SE ± 2.9 × 10(-3)). These results suggest that a radioactive waste disposal site is likely to be colonised by organisms able to degrade CDP and associated ISA's during the construction and operational phase of the facility.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical and Biological Sciences, School of Applied Sciences, University of Huddersfield, Huddersfield, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Simon P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Rout
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical and Biological Sciences, School of Applied Sciences, University of Huddersfield, Huddersfield, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Jessica
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Radford
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical and Biological Sciences, School of Applied Sciences, University of Huddersfield, Huddersfield, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Andrew P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Laws
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical and Biological Sciences, School of Applied Sciences, University of Huddersfield, Huddersfield, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Francis
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sweeney
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical and Biological Sciences, School of Applied Sciences, University of Huddersfield, Huddersfield, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Ahmed
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Elmekawy
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical and Biological Sciences, School of Applied Sciences, University of Huddersfield, Huddersfield, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Lisa J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Gillie
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical and Biological Sciences, School of Applied Sciences, University of Huddersfield, Huddersfield, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Paul N
authors.initials: PN
authors.lastname: Humphreys
mesh_terms: D001419:Bacteria / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D002482:Cellulose / Q000737:chemistry*; D005290:Ferric Compounds / Q000737:chemistry; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000382:microbiology; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D058889:Molecular Typing; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / Q000235:genetics; D011850:Radioactive Waste; D013400:Sugar Acids / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D005290:Ferric Compounds; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S; D011850:Radioactive Waste; D013400:Sugar Acids; C492894:isosaccharinic acid; C000499:ferric oxide; D002482:Cellulose