Uranium (VI) Reduction Under Facultative Anaerobic Conditions

U(VI) reduction data obtained with three bacterial species; Pseudomonas sp., Pantoea sp., and Enterobacter sp. were analyzed using an enzyme-based model. U(VI) reduction capacity of cells was determined — indicating the maximum amount of U(VI) that can be reduced by viable cells of a given species. Loss of U(VI) reduction capacity in bacterial cultures was attributed to toxic effects of U(VI). An enzyme-based model was formulated that accurately simulated U(VI) reduction in Enterobacter sp. The parameters ku, Ku and Tc estimated using experimental data at an initial U(VI) concentration of 100 mg/L was used to successfully simulate removal behavior in batches at entirely different initial concentrations (30-400 mg/L). For Pantoea sp., a very high reduction capacity was observed. The best fit for this culture was observed at an initial concentration of 200 mg/L. The parameter values (ku, Ku and Tc) obtained for the 75 mg/L data set were used to simulate successful simulated the U(VI) reduction trends at concentrations higher than 75 mg/L.