1. | ![]() |
1st day of class orientation requirements, evaluation criteria, suggested readings | Introduction-microbial ecology, microbial processes, factors that control microbial growth and activity; Mechanisms of Microbial transformations of toxic metals | ![]() |
2. | ![]() |
microbiology in nuclear wastes [MIND] | abundance of microbes in waste repository sites, contaminated soils, and radioactive wastes. Microbial processes in subterranean environment. Microbial population distribution and activity in the surface, subsurface and deep geological environments | ![]() |
3. | ![]() |
nuclear reactors, radiation, radioactivity, detection (V.Shvetsov) | introduction to ionizing radiation, origin, detection, protection, application | ![]() |
4. | ![]() |
Microbial Transformations and biogeochemical | microbial processes in the subterranean environment, autotrophy, heterotrophy, electron donors and acceptors, oxidation/reduction reactions, bioleaching | ![]() |
5. | ![]() |
Carbon cycle - 1 | organic matter degradation - environmental factors that affect decomposition | ![]() |
6. | ![]() |
Carbon cycle - 2 | biodegradation of naturally occurring organic compounds and xenobiotics | ![]() |
7. | ![]() |
Nitrogen cycle | ammonification, nitrification, denitrification, N2 fixation - symbiotic, asymbiotic | ![]() |
8. | ![]() |
review and discussion of microbial degradation of organics | effect of chain length and substituents on biodegradation organic compounds. Reactive barrier for removal of organics and metals. Strategies for dehalogenation, biodegradation - structure function relationship | ![]() |
9. | ![]() |
sulfur and phosphorous cycles | transformation of sulfur phosphorous | ![]() |
10. | ![]() |
microbial transformations of toxic metals | mechanisms of biotransformation of As, Se, Te, Sn, Po, Hg, Pb, Cr, Mo | ![]() |
11. | ![]() |
mechanisms of mobilization and immobilization of toxic metals and radionuclides in wastes | acid mine drainage (AMID), naturally occurring organic matter (NOM), microbial processes relevant to nuclear and coal wastes microbially induced corrosion (MIC) | ![]() |
12. | ![]() |
biotransformation of uranium I | oxidation of uranium minerals by autotrophic bacteria and bioleaching | ![]() |
13. | ![]() |
biotransformation of uranium II | biotransformation of uranium complexed with organic and inorganic ligands by heterotrophic bacteria | ![]() |
14. | ![]() |
biotransformation of uranium III | mechanisms of microbial dissolution and immobilization of U, biosorption, bioaccumulation, bioreduction | ![]() |
15. | Environmental biogeochemistry (W. Um) | biology meets geology through chemistry. Chemical reactions of radionuclides with solids | ||
16. | biotransformation of plutonium I. | microbial population distribution in Pu contaminated soils and wastes. | ||
17. | ![]() |
Mid term exam - oral presentation and term paper | biodegradation of resins, polymers, organic solidifying agents in low- and intermediate-level radioactive wastes | ![]() |
18. | ![]() |
Mid term exam - oral presentation and term paper | biodegradation of resins, polymers, organic solidifying agents in low- and intermediate-level radioactive wastes | ![]() |
19. | ![]() |
biotransformation of plutonium II | mechanisms of plutonium biotransformation, dissolution and immobilization of Pu, biotransformation of Pu complexed with organic ligands | ![]() |
20. | ![]() |
microbial transformations of Cesium, strontium, radium and selenium | mobilization and immobilization of neptunium, thorium, americium, curium | ![]() |
21. | ![]() |
microbial transformations of carbon-14 and tritium | biosorption and biorecipitation of cuss and Sr, selenium biotransformation, remobilization of radium, coprecipitated with baroum radium sulfate from waste | ![]() |
22. | Microbial Transformations of Carbon-14 and Tritium. | Microbial generation of 14CO2, 14CH4, HT, HTO, CH3T, 14CH3T from radioactive wastes and contaminated environments. | ||
23. | ![]() |
Biotransformation of Technetium. | Bioreduction of soluble pertechnetate Tc(VI) to insoluble Tc(IV) and precipitation. Solubilization of Tc(IV) by complexation with metabolites and organic ligands | ![]() |
24. | ![]() |
Microbial Transformations of Iodine. | Iodine chemistry, Microbial oxidation, reduction, volatilization. Iodine immobilization by bioaccumulation and complexation with soil organic matter. | ![]() |
25. | Mechanisms of Biosorption and Bioaccumulation of Radionuclides and Toxic Metals | Association of radionuclides with bacteria and spectroscopic characterization by UV-vis, XANES, EXAFS, TRLF | ||
26. | Remediation of Radionuclides and Toxic Metals in Wastes, Contaminated Soils, Water, and Materials | I. Characterization of Radionuclides and Toxic Metals | ||
27. | Bioremediation of uranium contaminated soils and wastes. | II. Stabilization of Radionuclides and Volume Reduction | ||
28. | ![]() |
Remediation of uranium contaminated soils and wastes | III. Removal and Recovery of Radionuclides. | ![]() |
29. | Remediation of Lead and other Toxic Metals in Wastes and Contaminated Soils | IV. Treatment of MSW, Wood Ash, Electric Arc Furnace Ash, Lead paint contaminated soil. | ||
30. | ![]() |
Last Day of ClassRemediation of Radionuclide Contaminated Soils, and Materials | 5. Decontamination of Metallic Surfaces and Secondary Waste Volume Reduction. | ![]() |
31. | ![]() |
Final Exam: Special Project Oral Presentation and Term paper | Microbial transformation of thorium, uranium and associated rare earth elements (REE) in Monazite ore. | ![]() |
32. | ![]() |
Final Exam: (cont’d) | Microbial transformation of thorium, uranium and associated rare earth elements (REE) in Monazite ore. | ![]() |