On the mechanism of uranium binding to cell wall of Chara fragilis

Biosorption of uranium from nuclear waste liquids and contaminated surface waters and soils has recently attracted special interest. However, the detailed mechanism of uranium uptake by plants is not well understood. The aim of this work is to investigate the role of cell wall components of the freshwater alga Chara fragilis in uranium sequestration from its solution. Three types of algae preparations: extract of cell wall polysaccharides, dried and live algae were subjected to uranium solutions of different concentration and pH. FTIR and X-ray diffraction were used to assess both potential binding sites and the form of the uranyl sequestered by algae. Sorption of uranium by live and dry algae shows remarkable differences both in terms of overall uptake and mechanisms involved. All experiments are consistent with the conclusion that coprecipitation of uranyl species with CaCO3 is the major binding mechanism in uranium sequestration by Chara fragilis, while the direct exchange of Ca2+ with UO22+ has a minor role. Live algae are twice as efficient in sequestering uranium from solution than dried ones due to the formation of different crystalline forms such as aragonite and rutherfordine forming in live algae in the presence of the uranyl species in solution. It therefore appears that metabolic processes such as photosynthesis, most likely through the regulation of pH, play a key role in the uranium uptake by plants. Further understanding of the complex mechanism of metabolic control of the uranium uptake by plants is needed before the planning of bioremediation of this element.