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Determination of the Settling Rate of Clay/Cyanobacterial Floccules
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Low water activity limits bentonite-associated microbial growth.

Rhiannon Punch1, Lucas Beckering Vinckers Stofer2, C M James Neurauter3

  • 1Department of Biology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1, Canada.

Journal of Applied Microbiology
|June 4, 2025
PubMed
Summary

Water activity impacts microbial estimates in bentonite, a material for nuclear fuel disposal. Low water activity under oxic conditions limited microbial growth, while anoxic conditions prevented increases in culturable microbes.

Keywords:
16S rRNA gene sequencingDNA extractioncultivationmicroorganismsqPCRwater activity

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Area of Science:

  • Geomicrobiology
  • Environmental Science
  • Nuclear Waste Management

Background:

  • Bentonite is a key material in deep geological repositories for nuclear fuel.
  • Previous studies examined microbial growth under pressure and saturation.
  • Understanding microbial responses to water activity is crucial for repository safety.

Purpose of the Study:

  • Investigate the effect of water activity on microbial abundance in bentonite.
  • Assess if water activity alone, without pressure, limits microbial proliferation.
  • Determine conditions relevant to deep geological repositories.

Main Methods:

  • Microcosms of bentonite were hydrated to varying water activities.
  • Incubations were performed under oxic and anoxic conditions for 6 months.
  • Microbial quantification used cultivation-dependent and -independent methods, 16S rRNA gene sequencing, phospholipid fatty acids, and natural organic matter analysis.

Main Results:

  • Increased water activity correlated with higher microbial abundance estimates under oxic conditions, notably actinobacterial growth.
  • No significant microbial abundance changes were observed in anoxic incubations.
  • Sulfate-reducing bacteria did not increase in abundance across tested conditions.

Conclusions:

  • Low water activity limited microbial abundance changes in oxic bentonite incubations.
  • Anoxic conditions alone prevented increases in culturable microorganisms.
  • These findings complement pressure-vessel studies on microbial proliferation during saturation.