Review of biotechnology applications to nuclear waste treatment

This paper gives an overview of the feasibility of the application of biotechnology to nuclear waste treatment. The contents are based on a report which PA Technology carried out for the Department of the Environment (DoE Reference: DoE/RW/88.008 Sector No 2.3). Many living and dead organisms accumulate heavy metals and radionuclides. The controlled use of this phenomenon forms the basis for the application of biotechnology to the removal of radionuclides from nuclear waste streams. Indeed, biotechnology offers a series of new opportunities for removal of radionuclides from dilute aqueous process effluents. Such technology is already used for heavy metal removal on a commercial basis and could be optimised for radionuclide removal. An overview of biotechnology areas, namely the use of biopolymers and biosorption using biomass applicable to the removal of radionuclides from industrial nuclear effluents is given. The potential of biomagnetic separation technology, genetic engineering and monoclonal antibody technology is also to be examined. The most appropriate technologies to develop for radionuclide removal in the short term appear to be those based on biosorption of radionuclides by biomass and the use of modified and unmodified biopolymers in the medium term.