UMB-II bentonite microcosms sequencing results

The study analyzed the microbial influence on bentonite transformation. Therefore, the microbial diversity in bentonite-slurries and the respective bentonite raw materials were analyzed by sequencing the V4-region of the 16S rRNA gene from extracted DNA. Since bentonites act as geo-technical barrier material in repositories for high-level radioactive waste, which should have a long-term stability for at least 300.000 years, the microbial diversity in these materials and their potential influence on the bentonite properties are an important factor.