Possible domestication of uranium oxides using biological assistance reduction

• Main Author: Slah Hidouri
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier 2017-01-01
• Series: Saudi Journal of Biological Sciences
• Subjects: Uranium; Nanoparticles; Bio-respiration intervention; Bio-reduction; Structural characterization
• Online Access: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1319562X15002053

Uranium has been defined in material research engineering field as one of the most energetic radioactive elements in the entire Mendeleev periodic table. The manipulation of uranium needs higher theories and sophisticated apparatus even in nuclear energy extraction or in many other chemical applications. Above the nuclear exploitation level, the chemical conventional approaches used, require a higher temperature and pressure to control the destination of ionic form. However, it has been discovered later that at biological scale, the manipulation of this actinide is possible under friendly conditions. The review summarizes the relevant properties of uranium element and a brief characterization of nanoparticles, based on some structural techniques. These techniques reveal the common link between chemical approaches and biological assistance in nanoparticles. Also, those biological entities have been able to get it after reduction. Uranium is known for its ability to destroy ductile materials. So, if biological cell can really reduce uranium, then how does it work?