1. | Introduction | Introducing the course rules, and studying Microbial population distribution and activity in the surface, subsurface and deep geological environments | ||
2. | Microbial processes | Microbial processes in subterranean environment; electron donors/acceptors; redox reactions | ||
3. | Carbon Cycle | Explaining term paper guidelines; studying Carbon Cycle, Biodegradation of organic compounds | ||
4. | Nitrogen Cycle | Studying the four processes of nitrogen cycles: Ammonification, Nitrification, denitrification, nitrogen fixation | ||
5. | Sulfur and Phosphorous Cycles & Transformations of other elements Arsenic, Mercury, Selenium, Tellurium | Defining sulfer cycle, sulfer oxidation, sulfate reduction and metal sulfide formation, volatile sulfur compounds; Defining and analyzing Phosphorus cycle | ||
6. | Mechanisms of Microbial Transformations of Arsenic, Mercury, Selenium, Tellurium | Studying oxidation-reduction reactions, Enzymatic vs non-enzymatic actions, microbial processes relevant to nuclear waste. | ||
7. | Microbial Transformation of Uranium I | Studying Biotransofrmation of Uranium, Uranium mining and milling wastes; biogeochemical processes and identifying the problems of nuclear waste contamination | ||
8. | Microbial Transformation of Uranium II | Outline of Microbial transformations of Uranium; biotransformation of uranium complexed with organic ligands | ||
9. | Microbial Transformation of Plutonium I | Learning different plutonium waste sites in the world and effect of gamma ray and radionuclides on microorganisms; Pu Association with bacterial cells | ||
10. | Microbial Transformation of Plutonium II | Understanding Plutonium production, Plutonium Solution Chemistry, and biotransformation of plutonium and dissolution. | ||
11. | Microbial Transformations of Neptunium, Thorium, Americium, Curium | Learning chemical properties and complexities of each actinide and their functions as nuclear fuel and potential hazard | ||
12. | Microbial Transformations of Cesium, Strontium, Radium and Selenium | Brief review of solution chemistry; Mechanisms of biotransformation; Mechanisms microbial dissolution immobilization of radionuclides; biotransformation of radionuclides | ||
13. | Microbial Transformation of Carbon-14 and Tritium | Review-Problem with wastes, contaminated soil, materials and water; brief review of chemistry, Mechanisms of biotransformation-under various environmental (electron donor/acceptor)-aerobic, denitrifying and anaerobic conditions | ||
14. | Microbial Transformations of Actinides and other radionuclides | Abundance of Microbes in Waste Repository Sties, contaminated soils and radioactive wastes; Effect of Actinides on Microorganisms; Mechanisms microbial Dissolution/ Immobilization of Actinides and Radionuclides | ||
15. | Students Midterm paper presentation | 1. Low-level Radioactive Waste Management in Korea & A Case study on the Uranium tailing dam of Pocos de Caldas in Brazil 2. Nuclear Waste Management 3. Low-level radioactive wastes | ||
16. | Students Midterm paper presentation | Radioactive waste management ; identifying radioactive wastes; cases in different waste sites, research on korean radioactive wsate management policy; From generation to remedation of radioactive waste | ||
17. | Biotransformation of Technetium | Brief overview of Tc chemistry; Mechanisms of biotransformation under various environmental detection donor acceptor, anaerobic, definining ancrobic conditions | ||
18. | Final exam preview; Microbial Transformations of Iodine | brief preview on final exam; mechanisms of biotransformations under various environmental dection donor acceptor, anaerobic conditions | ||
19. | Bioaccumulation/Biosorption of Radionuclides and Toxic Metals | Definition- Biosorption, bioaccumulation, biocrystallization; Mechanisms of biosorption and bioaccumulation; Mobilization and immobilization of radionuclides and toxic metals; Potential application to bioremediation | ||
20. | Remediation of Radinonuclides and Toxic Metals Contaminated Soils, Wastes, and Minerals I | Characterization of radionuclides and toxic metals; Stabilization of radionuclides and volume reduction; | ||
21. | Remediation of Radinonuclides and Toxic Metals Contaminated Soils, Wastes, and Minerals II | Removal and recovery of radionuclides and toxic metals; Potential application of bioremediation technology to other waste |
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22. | Final Exam: Special Project Presentation | Uranium collection technologies; Bioremediation of Radioactive Waste: Radionuclide-Microbe interactions | ||
23. | Final Review | Characterization of radionuclides and toxic metals, Physical and Chemical analyses and the mineralogical association; Stabilization of radionuclides and volume reduction; removal of recovery of radionuclides; Potential application of bioremediation technology to other wastes |