Recent studies suggest that electron shuttles such as low molecular mass quinones and humic substances may play a role in many redox reactions involved in contaminant transformations and the biogeochemical cycling of redox active elements. This study investigates the effects of 9,10-anthraquinone-2,6-disulfonate (AQDS), a synthetic electron shuttle often used as a surrogate for quinone moieties in humic substances, on the biotic and abiotic reduction of U(VI) under Fe(III)- and sulfate-reducing conditions. Our results suggest that microbial reduction was the dominant process contributing to the reduction of U(VI) over the timescale of this experiment and that the presence of AQDS enhanced both biotic and abiotic/microbially mediated U(VI) reduction, resulting in the formation of nanoparticulate uraninite.

Effects of electron shuttles on the reduction of U(VI) under Fe(III)- and sulfate-reducing conditions

243rd National Meeting (2012)

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