@article {44361,
	title = {pH-dependent speciation and hydrogen (H-2) control U(VI) respiration by Desulfovibrio vulgaris},
	journal = {Biotechnology and Bioengineering},
	volume = {115},
	year = {2018},
	month = {JUN},
	pages = {1465-1474},
	type = {Article},
	abstract = {In situ bioreduction of soluble hexavalent uranium U(VI) to insoluble U(IV) (as UO2) has been proposed as a means of preventing U migration in the groundwater. This work focuses on the bioreduction of U(VI) and precipitation of U(IV). It uses anaerobic batch reactors with Desulfovibrio vulgaris, a well-known sulfate, iron, and U(VI) reducer, growing on lactate as the electron donor, in the absence of sulfate, and with a 30-mM bicarbonate buffering. In the absence of sulfate, D. vulgaris reduced >90\% of the total soluble U(VI) (1mM) to form U(IV) solids that were characterized by X-ray diffraction and confirmed to be nano-crystalline uraninite with crystallite size 2.8 +/- 0.2nm. pH values between 6 and 10 had minimal impact on bacterial growth and end-product distribution, supporting that the mono-nuclear, and poly-nuclear forms of U(VI) were equally bioavailable as electron acceptors. Electron balances support that H-2 transiently accumulated, but was ultimately oxidized via U(VI) respiration. Thus, D. vulgaris utilized H-2 as the electron carrier to drive respiration of U(VI). Rapid lactate utilization and biomass growth occurred only when U(VI) respiration began to draw down the sink of H-2 and relieve thermodynamic inhibition of fermentation.},
	doi = {10.1002/bit.26579},
	author = {Kushwaha, Shilpi and Marcus, Andrew K. and Rittmann, Bruce E.}
}
@article {46666,
	title = {Polymer nanorings with uranium specific clefts for selective recovery of uranium from acidic effluents via reductive adsorption},
	journal = {ACS Sensors},
	volume = {5},
	year = {2020},
	month = {OCT},
	pages = {3254-3263},
	type = {Article},
	abstract = {<p>Nanostructured polymeric materials, functionalized with an appropriate receptor, have opened up newer possibilities for designing a reagent that shows analyte-specific recognition and efficient scavenging of an analyte that has either a detrimental influence on human physiology and environment or on its recovery for further value addition. Higher active surface area, morphological diversity, synthetic tunability for desired surface functionalization, and the ease of regeneration of a nanostructured material for further use have provided such materials with a distinct edge over conventional reagents. The use of a biodegradable polymeric backbone has an added significance owing to the recent concern over the impact of polymers on the environment. Functionalization of biodegradable sodium alginate with AENA (6.85\% grafting) as the receptor functionality led to a unique open framework nanoring (NNRG) morphology with a favorable spatial orientation for specific recognition and efficient binding to uranyl ions (U) in an aqueous medium over a varied pH range. Nanoring morphology was confirmed by transmission electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy images. The nanoscale design maximizes the surface area for the molecular scavenger. A combination of all these features along with the reversible binding phenomenon has made NNRG a superior reagent for specific, efficient uptake of UO22+ species from an acidic (pH 3-4) solution and compares better than all existing UO22+-scavengers reported till date. This could be utilized for the recovery of uranyl species from a synthetic acidic effluent of the nuclear power. The results of the U uptake experiments reveal a maximum adsorption capacity of 268 mg of U per g of NNRG in a synthetic nuclear effluent. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy studies revealed a reductive complexation process and stabilization of U(IV)-species in adsorbed uranium species (U@NNRG).</p>
},
	keywords = {biodegradable polymeric backbone, molecular recognition, nanostructured material, sodium alginate, uranium, uranyl-specific receptor},
	issn = {2379-3694},
	doi = {10.1021/acssensors.0c01684},
	author = {Kushwaha, Shilpi and Mane, Manoj and Ravindranathan, Sapna and Das, Amitava}
}
