Microbial transformation of plutonium

Analytical results indicate the reaction of Pu and fungal metabolites possibly occurs in the cell and the Pu compounds are then released into the exocellular media. Research has demonstrated that Pu-resistant microorganisms which have the ability to change the chemical form of a highly stable Pu complex can be isolated from soil. Continued research will be directed toward determination of the ability of Pu-resistant soil microbial isolates (maintained in stock cultures) to alter the solubility and mobility of the largely insoluble forms of Pu present in the environment. Since these studies involve a systematic investigation of the major classes of soil organisms, determination of their ability to alter Pu form in soil as well as in vitro and evaluation of the soil and environmental factors influencing their ability to transform Pu, the results should ultimately provide a realistic evaluation of the behavior of Pu in soil and the availability of Pu metabolites to plants. (CH)