Micans developes new sampling methods

2016-10-05

Investigations of potential sites for a spent nuclear fuel (SNF) repository in Sweden have revealed diverse cultivable populations in all analysed groundwater samples. Many of these bacteria circulate freely but a great number are also attached to the rock surface in biofilm formations. Up until now well developed methods for quantification and identifaction of the these microorganisms have been missing.

The presence of active microbial populations in repository environments must consequently be addressed to facilitate safe implementation of geological disposal of SNF. It has repeatedly been show that subterranean microorganisms rapidly attach to mineral surfaces and that attached microorganisms are at least as metabolically active as are planktonic microorganisms. While there were well developed methods for the analysis of numbers and diversity of planktonic microorganisms in deep groundwater there were no methods for assaying numbers and diversity of attached microorganisms on aquifer fracture surfaces during the site investigations. New methods for sampling attached microorganisms had to be developed for determination of amount of biomass per surface area. The methodologies should also be applicable for determination of microbial diversity.

These newly developed methods by Micans can be read about in the new published report available here.