The biochemical behavior and process parameters of U (VI) removal induced by microorganisms isolated from wastewater in decommissioned mining area

Abstract

In this study, a method of removing uranium from wastewater using Pseudomonas and Enterobacter in indigenous bacterial communities was proposed and demonstrated good removal efficiency. Biological mechanisms were employed to investigate the removal mechanism. The results suggested that the indigenous bacterial community can transform soluble uranyl ions to insoluble uranium-containing precipitates and fix them on the ore surface. Furthermore, hydroxyl, carboxyl, phosphate groups, and proteins of microorganisms were identified as crucial roles in the uranium removal process. These findings reveal the significant potential application value of the indigenous bacterial community for the remediation of uranium wastewater from decommissioned mining areas.