Bioreduction and precipitation of uranium in ionic liquid aqueous solution by Clostridium sp.

C. Zhang, C. J. Dodge, S. V. Malhotra, A. J. Francis

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

37 Scopus citations

Abstract

The ionic liquids, 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate [BMIM][PF6], N-ethylpyridiniumtrifluoroacetate [EtPy][CF3COO] and N-ethylpyridiniumtetrafluoroborate [EtPy][BF4], affected the reduction and precipitation of uranium by Clostridium sp. to a varying degree. Characterization of uranium association with the ionic liquids showed that uranium formed a monodentate complex with the anion BF4- and PF6- of [EtPy][BF4] and [BMIM][PF6], respectively; and a bidentate complex with carboxylate of [EtPy][CF3COO]. Bioreduction of U(VI) was influenced by the type of complex formed: monodentate complexes were readily reduced whereas the bidentate complex of U(VI) with [CF3COO] was recalcitrant. [EtPy][BF4] affected the rate and extent of precipitation of the reduced uranium; at higher concentration the reduced U(IV) remained in the solution phase. The results suggest that by tuning the properties of ionic liquids they may be valuable candidates for uranium biotreatment.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)752-756
Number of pages5
JournalBioresource Technology
Volume136
DOIs
StatePublished - May 2013
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Bioreduction
  • Clostridium sp.
  • Ionic liquids
  • Precipitation
  • Uranium

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Bioengineering
  • Environmental Engineering
  • Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment
  • Waste Management and Disposal

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