Award Date

1-1-1997

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Biological Science

Number of Pages

141

Abstract

This project addressed the ability of native Yucca Mountain bacterial isolates to corrode metal designated as the outer barrier for nuclear waste containment. Microorganisms implicated in microbially-influenced corrosion recovered from the deep subsurface at Yucca Mountain include iron-oxidizing, sulfate-reducing, and exopolymer-producing bacteria. Test systems composed of a 1020 carbon steel coupon immersed in soft agar or soft agar and ground rock were designed to evaluate the biofilm formation and corrosion capabilities of these microorganisms at elevated temperature. Results indicated that incubation at 50{dollar}\sp\circ{dollar}C decreased the ability of these microorganisms to corrode carbon steel immersed in soft agar. However, corrosion rates were dramatically increased by the presence of a rock surface. Enhanced corrosion rates were also observed in each medium when the system was allowed to colonize at ambient temperature prior to incubation at 50{dollar}\sp\circ{dollar}C.

Keywords

Capability; Carbon; Containment; Corrode; Microorganisms; Mountain; Native; Nuclear; Nuclear Waste Containment; Nevada; Steel; Waste; Yucca

Controlled Subject

Microbiology; Materials science

File Format

pdf

File Size

3051.52 KB

Degree Grantor

University of Nevada, Las Vegas

Language

English

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