Institut Laue-Langevin

A new micro-alga discovered at the ILL which resists high radiation doses and concentrates metal radio-nuclides

A joint ILL-CEA bio-technology process

The bio­technology processes for bioremediation of radionuclides in water are rare because the biological organisms used should be adapted to sustain the chemical and radiological toxicity of the contaminants.

A new micro­alga, C. actinabiotis, has been discovered in the storage pool of the ILL research reactor. It survives to extremely high radiation doses - up to 20000 Gy, that is 2000 times the human lethal dose - and compares in this respect with the well known Deinoccocus radiodurans. It also accumulates very selectively and efficiently silver and cobalt radionuclides (as well as other elements) the main environmental gamma emitter pollutants produced by nuclear power plants. Its outstanding properties make it an ideal   organism for the   remediation of radionuclides. The ILL takes part, together with the CEA Grenoble, in patented bio-technology processes to purify nuclear liquid wastes by concentrating the radio-activity into these algae.

C. actinabiotis discovered at the ILL, resists extreme irradiation and concentrates metals

References:
C. Rivasseau, E. Farhi, A. Couté and A. Atteia, Patent INPI FR10-0578 (Feb 2010)
E. Farhi et al, J. Phys: Cond Matt 20 (2008) 104216