The natural phosphatase activities of microbes isolated from Oak Ridge Field Research Center (ORFRC) soils release sufficient inorganic phosphate from exogenous organophosphate amendments to precipitate mobile U(VI) as U(VI)-phosphate minerals. As addition of exogenous organophosphates to contaminated environments may be cost prohibitive, a new promising strategy may involve promoting the hydrolysis of naturally-occurring phytate, the most abundant form of organic phosphorus in soils, which requires expression of the unique phosphomonoesterase enzyme phytase to catalyze hydrolysis. As phytate carries a highly negative charge above pH 2, sorption may play an important role in the bioavailability of phytate to soil microorganisms. In this study, several questions concerning the potential for exploiting phytate in a U(VI)-phosphate biomineralization strategy were investigated. First, the bioavailability of phytate was determined through investigation of the sorption properties of phytate on lepidocrocite and ORFRC soils. Second, the phytase activity of the natural ORFRC microbial community was investigated by incubating ORFRC soils in artificial groundwater amended with phytate.

Effects of soil sorption on organophosphate bioavailability:  Implications for U(VI) bioremediation strategies

244th National Meeting (2012)

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