Plutonium(VI) accumulation and reduction by lichen biomass: correlation with U(VI)

Journal of Environmental Radioactivity
Toshihiko OhnukiO William Purvis

Abstract

The uptake of plutonium(VI) and uranium(VI) by lichen biomass was studied in the foliose lichen Parmotrema tinctorum to elucidate the migration behavior of Pu and U in the terrestrial environment. Pu and U uptake by P. tinctorum averaged 0.040+/-0.010 and 0.055+/-0.015 g gdry (-1), respectively, after 96 h incubation with 4.0 x 10(14) mol 1(-1) Pu solutions of pH 3, 4 and 5. SEM observations showed that the accumulated Pu is evenly distributed on the upper and lower surfaces of P. tinctorum, in contrast to U(VI), which accumulated in both cortical and medullary layers. UV/VIS absorption spectroscopy demonstrates that a fraction of Pu(VI) in the solution is reduced to Pu(V) by the organic substances released from P. tinctorum, and the accumulated Pu on the surface is reduced to Pu(IV), while U(VI) keeps the oxidation state of VI. Since the solubility of Pu(IV) hydroxides is very low, reduced Pu(VI) does not penetrate to the medullary layers, but is probably precipitated as Pu(IV) hydroxides on the cortical lichen surface. It is concluded that the uptake and reduction of Pu(VI) by lichens is important to determine the mobilization and oxidation states of Pu in the terrestrial environment.

References

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May 1, 1995·Biotechnology Progress·B Volesky, Z R Holan
Feb 24, 2001·Zeitschrift Für Naturforschung. C, a Journal of Biosciences·G K Jayaprakasha, L J Rao
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Citations

Mar 18, 2011·Journal of Environmental Monitoring : JEM·Eric Frank CaldwellDaniel P Coughlin
Jul 29, 2011·Journal of Environmental Monitoring : JEM·Eric CaldwellDaniel Coughlin
Mar 28, 2020·International Journal of Phytoremediation·Venu-Babu Pentyala, Susan Eapen
Jun 2, 2007·Environmental Science & Technology·Toshihiko OhnukiArokiasamy J Francis

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