Impact of microbial biofilms on the performance of materials relevant to the nuclear fuel cycle

该项目将以C14-BIC项目的工作和对生物膜和亲碱微生物的相关研究为基础，并将其扩展到与核燃料循环和放射性废物处置有关的混凝土和水泥等一系列其他材料上的生物膜形成。这些材料很重要，因为它们是常见的建筑材料，广泛用于固定放射性废物。更具体地说，生物膜改变表面化学成分、延缓污染物的释放以及在这些材料的微位和裂缝中存活的能力将是该项目的主要重点。

This project will build on the work of the C14-BIC project and associated research on biofilms and alkaliphilic microorganisms and extend it to biofilm formation on a range of other materials such as concrete and cements relevant to the nuclear fuel cycle and radioactive waste disposal. These materials are important since they are common construction materials and are extensively used in the immobilisation of radioactive wastes. More specifically, the ability of biofilms to modify surface chemistries, retard the release of contaminants and survive in microsites and cracks within these materials, will be the main focus of the project.