Issue |
EPJ Web of Conferences
Volume 56, 2013
International Workshop NUCPERF 2012: Long-Term Performance of Cementitious Barriers and Reinforced Concrete in Nuclear Power Plant and Radioactive Waste Storage and Disposal (RILEM Event TC 226-CNM and EFC Event 351)
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Article Number | 01003 | |
Number of page(s) | 9 | |
Section | Session 1: Physical, Chemical and Mechanical Behavior: Physico-chemical Effect | |
DOI | https://doi.org/10.1051/epjconf/20135601003 | |
Published online | 11 July 2013 |
https://doi.org/10.1051/epjconf/20135601003
Nitrate reducing bacterial activity in concrete cells of nuclear waste disposal
1 Laboratoire de Génie Chimique, Univ. de Toulouse : INPT, UPS, CNRS 4, Allée Emile Monso, F-31030 Toulouse, France
2 Laboratoire Matériaux et Durabilité des Constructions, Univ. de Toulouse : UPS, INSA. 135, avenue de Rangueil ; F-31 077 Toulouse Cedex 04 ; France.
3 Laboratoire de Chimie Agro-Industrielle, Univ. de Toulouse : INPT, INRA 4 allée Emile Monso, BP 44 362, 31432 Toulouse Cedex 4, France
4 Andra, 1-7, rue Jean-Monnet - 92298 Châtenay-Malabry, France
Leaching experiments of solid matrices (bitumen and cement pastes) have been first implemented to define the physicochemical conditions that microorganisms are likely to meet at the bitumen-concrete interface (see the paper of Bertron et al.). Of course, as might be suspected, the cement matrix imposes highly alkaline pH conditions (10 <pH <11). The screening of a range of anaerobic denitrifying bacterial strains led us to select Halomonas desiderata as a model bacterium capable of catalyzing the reaction of nitrate reduction in these extreme conditions of pH. The denitrifying activity of Halomonas desiderata was quantified in batch bioreactor in the presence of solid matrices and / or leachate from bitumen and cement matrices. Denitrification was relatively fast in the presence of cement matrix (<100 hours) and 2 to 3 times slower in the presence of bituminous matrix. Overall, the presence of solid cement promoted the kinetics of denitrification. The observation of solid surfaces at the end of the experiment revealed the presence of a biofilm of Halomonas desiderata on the cement paste surface. These attached bacteria showed a denitrifying activity comparable to planktonic bacterial culture. On the other side, no colonization of bitumen could be highlighted as either by SEM or epifluorescence microscopy. Now, we are currently developing a continuous experimental bioreactor which should allow us a more rational understanding of the bitumen-cement-microbe interactions.
© Owned by the authors, published by EDP Sciences, 2013
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