Outline of Research on Interactions between Microorganisms and Geological Disposal of High-Level Radioactive Waste

Abstract

At present, in the geological disposal domain of high-level radioactive waste, little is known about microorganisms in deep underground geological environment in our country. This paper introduces some interactions between microbiological and geological disposal of high-level radioactive waste. There is a huge biosphere in the deep underground, mainly held by extremophiles. Microorganisms can influence the waste geological disposal environment in two aspects. On the one hand, the storehouse security will be confronted with serious problems of microorganisms because of their material corrosion capability. The main species of corrosion microorganisms include sulfate reducing bacteria, sulfur-oxidizing bacteria, saprophytic bacteria, iron bacteria and fungi. About research development on interactions between microbiological and geological disposal of high-level radioactive waste in China and abroad, foreign countries started early. Specialized research field has been formed and many achievements has been made by a series of research in Sweden, US, France, Canada, and so on. But relevant study is very few in our country. Therefore, there are special necessity and urgency to carry out this research.