Enhanced Microbial Degradation of Irradiated Cellulose Under Hyperalkaline Conditions

The geological disposal facility is expected to retain radioactive waste materials for thousands of years until their radioactivity decays to background levels. The alkali hydrolysis of cellulosic material in the wasteforms may jeopardise this due to the production of water soluble organic complexants that may enhance radionuclide transport to the biosphere. The importance of this study is in showing that irradiation of the cellulosic material enhances this process, but this is counterbalanced by the microbial degradation of the cellulosic material and the fermentation of the degradation products. These results will lead to the development of more realistic models of the biogeochemical processes expected to occur in a geological disposal facility, and create a more accurate safety case.