Interaction between Paramecium bursaria and europium(III)

Kozai, Naofumi   ; Onuki, Toshihiko

The impact of activity of microorganism such as bacteria and yeast on the radionuclide migration leached from radioactive wastes has been investigated intensively. However, the role of protozoa, who pray bacteria and yeast, in the migration of radionuclides is not clarified at all. This study selected Paramecium bursaria as representative of protozoa and yeast as representative of food microorganism and investigated the behavior of Eu(III) during culture of paramecium with addition of yeast sorbing Eu(III). The Eu(III) on yeast was hardly solubilized in culture media during the culture of paramecium. Most of Eu(III) was found in undigested residue of yeast and extracellular polymeric substance of paramecium.