Microbiological characterization of cellulose waste contaminated by Cesium 137 in the Goiânia's accident

• Grant number: 23/13616-1
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: February 01, 2024
• End date: January 31, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Nuclear Engineering
• Principal Investigator: Júlio Takehiro Marumo
• Grantee: Júlio Takehiro Marumo
• Host Institution: Instituto de Pesquisas Energéticas e Nucleares (IPEN). Secretaria de Desenvolvimento Econômico (São Paulo - Estado). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated researchers: Cristina Viana Niero ; Maria Helena Bellini Marumo ; Roberto Vicente

Abstract

The radioactive waste generated in the radiological accident in Goiânia, in 1987, with a source of 137CsCl (Cesium-137 chloride) are stored in the repository of Abadia de Goiás, but 40 tons of contaminated paper bales that were sold in the state of São Paulo are stored at the Institute of Energy and Nuclear Research (IPEN-CNEN/SP). These bales are stored in 50 steel boxes with a capacity of 1600 liters each. In 2017, after an inspection of the contents of five of these boxes, the presence of high moisture content was observed and the paper bales appeared to be in an advanced process of deterioration, having observed the presence of bacteria, fungi and nematodes. Knowing the process that caused this degradation and the microorganisms involved is important for the safety issue of radioactive waste repositories and also to identify potential bacteria that can be used in the treatment of radioactive waste and in industry. Bacteria play a key role in this process. The main objective of this work is the characterization of the bacteria present in the radioactive waste, after 30 years of isolation from the external environment of the storage containers. This work will be carried out in collaboration with the Biotechnology Center (CEBIO/IPEN), the Radioactive Waste Management Service (SEGRR/IPEN) and the Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology at UNIFESP/SP. (AU)