Isolation of fungi with potential for bioremediation of heavy metals and radionuclides in uranium mine Osamu Utsumi

• Grant number: 15/06757-1
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Start date: June 01, 2015
• End date: July 31, 2019
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Microbiology
• Agreement: Coordination of Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (CAPES)
• Principal Investigator: Benedito Corrêa
• Grantee: Ednei Assunção Antunes Coelho
• Host Institution: Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas (ICB). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated scholarship(s): 18/14338-7 - Study of the biomineralization of phosphate by microorganisms for the bioremediation of uranium mine tailings, BE.EP.DR

Abstract

The Osamu Utsumi mine of nuclear industries of Brazil (INB), located in the city of Caldas / MG was the first uranium extraction mine in Brazil and had its activities stopped in 1995, since then has problems to rehabilitate contaminated areas caused by uranium extraction, a major problem is acid mine drainage (AMD), which leads to the formation of sulfuric acid and leaves the effluent water from the region of pH 2.5 to 3.0 and with high concentrations of heavy metals, including radionuclides as uranium and thorium, all with concentration levels above the legal limit, these heavy metals are highly toxic. Bioremediation is an alternative technology for the remediation of sites contaminated with heavy metals. The potential of fungi have been recognized as an adsorbent for the removal of heavy metal ions and radionuclides contaminated areas. The fungi accumulate nutrients such as Cu, Zn, Mn and non-nutrient metals as U, Ni, Cd, Sn, Hg and at high concentrations greater than their nutritional requirements. The study of fungal microbiota of water and soil and sediment in the area of the mine, and the adsorption capacity of heavy metals by these microorganisms, are extremely important for the development of an alternative technology remediation seeking the recovery of a contaminated environment. Based on these precedents this research project aims to isolate and characterize fungal species of soil, water and sediment uranium mine and evaluate the heavy metal adsorption capacity these microorganisms living and dead. The specific objectives are: Isolate and identify fungi in soil samples, water and sediment in the mine area in different collection points; select fungi such as its capacity for growth front of the heavy metal ions (uranium, thorium, copper, iron); determine radial growth rate front of the heavy metal ions; assess the distribution of heavy metals in the fungal cell; determine and quantify the retention of heavy metal ions in fungal mycelia and yeast. The research will be the first held in the mine area. (AU)

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

COELHO, EDNEI; REIS, TATIANA ALVES; COTRIM, MARYCEL; MULLAN, THOMAS K.; RENSHAW, JOANNA; RIZZUTTO, MARCIA; CORREA, BENEDITO. Talaromyces amestolkiae uses organic phosphate sources for the treatment of uranium-contaminated water. BIOMETALS, v. 35, n. 2, p. 14-pg., 2022-02-23. (15/06757-1)

COELHO, EDNEI; REIS, TATIANA ALVES; COTRIM, MARYCEL; MULLAN, THOMAS K.; CORREA, BENEDITO. Resistant fungi isolated from contaminated uranium mine in Brazil shows a high capacity to uptake uranium from water. Chemosphere, v. 248, JUN 2020. (15/06757-1)

COELHO, EDNEI; REIS, TATIANA ALVES; COTRIM, MARYCEL; RIZZUTTO, MARCIA; CORREA, BENEDITO. Bioremediation of water contaminated with uranium usingPenicillium piscarium. BIOTECHNOLOGY PROGRESS, v. 36, n. 5, JUN 2020. (15/06757-1)

Academic Publications

(References retrieved automatically from State of São Paulo Research Institutions)

COELHO, Ednei Assunção Antunes. Isolation of fungi with potential for bioremediation from Osamu Utsumiuranium mine.. 2019. Doctoral Thesis - Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas (ICB/SDI) São Paulo.