E. Coli Can Be Used To Clean Up Nuclear Waste

Posted by kdawson on Monday September 21, 2009 @09:05PM from the make-yourself-useful dept.

jerryjamesstone writes "Researchers have found that E. coli can be used to recover uranium from tainted waters and can even be used to clean up nuclear waste. Using the bacteria along with inositol phosphate, the bacteria breaks down the phosphate — also called phytic acid — to free the phosphate molecules. The phosphate then binds to the uranium forming a uranium-phosphate precipitate on the cells of the bacteria. Those cells can then be harvested to recover the uranium." What has made this 14-year-old process economically feasible is the use of inositol phosphate, which is a cheap waste material from the production feedstock from plant material.

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First post by Anonymous Coward · 2009-09-21 21:55 · Score: -1, Offtopic

Typed on an iPod Touch. Hooray for Apple!
I for one... by kazade84 · 2009-09-21 22:30 · Score: 0, Offtopic

I for one welcome our radioactive super powered waste eating bacteria overlords

.... I'll get my coat.
Great! by __aagujc9792 · 2009-09-21 22:41 · Score: -1, Offtopic

Now all we have to do is grind up all the uranium-contaminated granite rocks (continental masses) and pour crap on them. Then we'll be safe from the nyucaleer boogyman and all live forever. Bah, humbug.
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olderphart