Influence of Nitrate on Microbial Reduction of Pertechnetate

Abstract

Factors influencing microbial reduction of Tc(VII) in nitrate and radionuclide contaminated aquifer sediments were investigated using sediment microcosms containing organic electron donor, nitrate and Tc(VII). Microcosms underwent nitrate reduction followed by Tc(VII) reduction. During this transition, the microbial community changed from being dominated by bacteria affiliated with the genus Paenibacillus during the nitrate reduction phase, to those affiliated with genera Agrobacterium, Geothrix, and Desulfosporosinus during the Tc(VII) reduction phase. To investigate the mechanism of Tc(VII) reduction, the nitrate reducing strains Agrobacterium FRC-A2, Azoarcus FRC-B1, and a fermentative Clostridium FRC-C11 were isolated from sediment microcosms undergoing Tc(VII) reduction. Nitrate reducing bacteria reduced Tc(VII) effectively only in the presence of Fe(lll) and after nitrate was reduced, implying a major role for Fe(ll) as an electron shuttle in Tc(VII) reduction. It is likely that accumulation of nitrite blocks Fe(ll) production and hence Tc(VII) reduction during the active nitrate reduction phase. The pure culture of Clostridium FRC-C11 is able to reduce Tc(VII) enzymatically with H2 or glucose as electron donor and deposits insoluble Tc compounds within the cells in a manner that is not significantly influenced by the presence of nitrate. These results provided a possible mechanism for Tc(VII) reduction independent of Fe(III) and not influenced by nitrate.