Investigation of microbiologial effect on geological disposal

Yoshikawa, Hideki; Yui, Mikazu; Sasaki, Noriaki; Fukunaga, Sakae*; Asano, Hidekazu*; not registered

Geomicrobiology for the geological disposal of radioactive wastes and the assessment of potential microbial effects on chemical and physical changes in repository environments and nuclide transport have been pointed out to be of cardinal importance. However, the detailed effects of microbes are poorly understood. In order to study microbial activities in underground and their effects on a repository and to know the recent study status, a literature survey was performed. In addition to this, the current research activities of major research laboratories in the world were investigated. And microbiology related meetings and conferences were also searched. In the literature survey, biodegradation and physical disruption of materials, gas generation, alteration of ground-water chemistry and the direct uptake of radionuclides were identified as factors which potentially affect the nuclide containment capability of the repository. And through the search for laboratories and meetings, information on the most recent status of biological study on the underground repository and on conferences related to geomicrobiology were obtained, respectively.