Association Need Help? 850-547-0102 - Ronnie 11 MAY 2025 WorldWide Drilling Resource® A New Chemical Process for the Removal of Uranium Adapted from Information by Linnaeus University Scientists have identified a new chemical process that enables the removal of uranium from groundwater, a process facilitated deep within the bedrock, where uranium is converted into a stable rock form. This discovery may provide an important tool for preventing the spread of toxic uranium in groundwater. In a 17-year experiment, researchers explored deep boreholes in bedrock and found minerals containing large amounts of uranium. Microbes thriving in oxygen-free environments proved crucial to this process. The microbes produce substances that aid in transforming uranium, integrating its incorporation into minerals, and stabilizing it, thereby preventing further transport via groundwater. “The findings suggest that naturally occurring bacteria affect the uranium removal. The microbes contribute to form sinks for toxic elements in the subsurface environment. This process has large potential to prevent the spread of hazardous elements in the environment,” explained Ivan Pidchenko, postdoctoral fellow at the Linnaeus University, and lead author of the study. The results have significant implications for the remediation of contaminated groundwater and ensuring the safe disposal of spent nuclear fuel repositories. “Uranium is the main component in spent nuclear fuel that will be deposited in long-term geological storage in deep bedrock systems. Our finding is an additional brick to the foundation of long-term safety assessment of geological nuclear repositories for construction in Sweden and elsewhere,” said Pidchenko. Researcher Ivan Pidchenko surveying rock fractures for uranium, using a scintillometer. ENV
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