Find out the biological method to remove soluble uranium

US scientists have found a bacterium called Geobacter that can help remove uranium soluble in groundwater with their hairs.

The study, published in the September 5 issue of the journal "New Discovery," says that the hairs of the bacteria limit the dissolution of uranium, allowing the chemical to be washed away. easier.

Experts cultivated Geobacter bacteria under different temperature conditions, both encouraging and limiting their hair growth; then compare their reaction when living in uranium-contaminated media with the bacteria that produce hair and bacteria supplemented with this gene.

The results showed that the hairy bacteria cleaned up the amount of uranium far more than the hairless bacteria.

In fact, hairy bacteria cause uranium to settle outside of their cells, preventing it from seeping through the envelope between the inner membrane and the outer membrane . Meanwhile, hairless bacteria absorb more uranium into the envelope and cell membrane.

When using fluorescent dye to identify the bacterial respiration reaction in uranium-contaminated media, the researchers found respiration activity of stronger hairy bacteria, so the ability to continue to live by they are higher. In addition, hairy bacteria also recover and grow faster after exposure to uranium.

Experts say that the finding could be helpful in drafting biological methods to remove uranium.