Microbial degradation of LLW under repository conditions- case TVO

Minna Vikman (Corresponding author), Kaisa Marjamaa, Merja Itävaara

    Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference abstract in proceedingsScientific

    Abstract

    In Finland major part of the low level radioactive waste (LLW) is composed of protective plastic
    sheets, clothing, tools, and towels used during maintenance work. This miscellaneous maintenance
    waste is compacted in steel drums and deposited 60‐110 meters below ground level. The Gas
    Generation Experiment GGE has been established in 1997 to examine gas generation from LLW in
    TVO's final disposal repository for operational LLW and ILW in Olkiluoto, Finland. Since 1999 gas
    generation has been rather constant and released gas was mainly composed of methane. The results
    obtained by qPCR also revealed that methanogens formed major part of the microbial population in
    GGE. In addition to anaerobic degradation of organic matter there are also other processes that
    influence the gas formation, such as corrosion of steel and sulphate reduction by bacteria.
    Considerable heterogeneity in chemical conditions has been detected in different locations of GGE
    which can be also seen as differences in microbiological activity and diversity.
    Original languageEnglish
    Title of host publicationMIND (the Microbiology In Nuclear waste Disposal) Project Annual Meeting 1. Extended Abstracts
    Subtitle of host publicationBook of Abstracts
    PublisherEuropean Union
    Pages39-42
    Publication statusPublished - 2016
    EventMicrobiology In Nuclear waste Disposal, Project Annual Meeting 1 - Granada, Spain
    Duration: 1 Apr 20162 Apr 2016

    Conference

    ConferenceMicrobiology In Nuclear waste Disposal, Project Annual Meeting 1
    Abbreviated titleMIND
    Country/TerritorySpain
    CityGranada
    Period1/04/162/04/16

    Keywords

    • nuclear waste
    • LLW
    • biodegradability

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