Microbes generate electricity while cleaning up nuclear waste

[OKIsItJustMe]

http://news.msu.edu/story/9741/

Microbes generate electricity while cleaning up nuclear waste

Contact: Layne Cameron, University Relations, Office: [phone], Cell: [phone], [e-mail]; Gemma Reguera, Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Office: [phone], [e-mail]

Published: Sept. 06, 2011

…

Details of the process, which can be improved and patented, are published in the current issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. The implications could eventually benefit sites forever changed by nuclear contamination, said Gemma Reguera, MSU microbiologist.

“Geobacter bacteria are tiny micro-organisms that can play a major role in cleaning up polluted sites around the world,” said Reguera, who is an MSU AgBioResearch scientist. “Uranium contamination can be produced at any step in the production of nuclear fuel, and this process safely prevents its mobility and the hazard for exposure.”

The ability of Geobacter to immobilize uranium has been well documented. However, identifying the Geobacters’ conductive pili or nanowires as doing the yeoman’s share of the work is a new revelation. Nanowires, hair-like appendages found on the outside of Geobacters, are the managers of electrical activity during a cleanup.

“Our findings clearly identify nanowires as being the primary catalyst for uranium reduction,” Reguera said. “They are essentially performing nature’s version of electroplating with uranium, effectively immobilizing the radioactive material and preventing it from leaching into groundwater.”

…

http://news.msu.edu/media/documents/2011/09/a66c5eb1-c34c-41a3-9930-c57b8f05aa8e.pdf

[whosinpower]

1. Never underestimate

The power of nature.

[thereismore]

2. That is great. But a cynic inside me says that now we just need to figure out

how to get the electroplated U out of there.

[SpoonFed]

3. Propaganda title at work.

The ability of Geobacter to immobilize uranium has been well documented.

Stopping U from getting into groundwater is a good thing, but this immobilization of U is hardly the same thing as "cleaning up" nuclear waste.
Unrecced for the blatent spin. Not to mention U is hardly the only bit of radioactive filth coming out of the nuclear waste industry.

Get back to me when they do this for Cs137 or I,
kthxbye

[pscot]

4. Sounds almost too good to be true

I wonder if they do windows.