Interactions between a halophilic archaeon and uranium regarding the final disposal of radioactive waste in salt rock

Regarding the deposit of radioactive waste in a deep geological formation, salt rock is one possibility in Germany. The archaeon Halobacterium noricense was chosen to study the interactions between a halophilic microorganism and uranium. Biosorption experiments showed that this microorganism is able to bind uranium effectively and that the presence of uranium provokes a reaction from the cells. By the use of spectroscopic methods a coordination of uranium to cellular carboxyl and phosphate groups was proven.