The Role of Biofilm on the Alteration of Glasses: Example of Basaltic and Nuclear Glasses

It is generally accepted that alterations of rocks and anthropogenic products are not exclusively driven by the interaction with water or mineral aqueous solutions. Organic compounds as well as microorganisms are important in mineral degradation processes, together with secondary mineralization. However, the exact role of biofilms in these processes remains unclear. In our study we tested two materials, a tholeiitic basaltic glass and the reference French nuclear glass SON68 17 LIDC2A2Z1. Experiments were carried out for 19 weeks using a modified soxhlet's device at 25°C. We developed a specific growth medium which allows both the growth of Pseudomonas bacterium and a precise measurement, using ICP-MS, of trace elements solubilized from the two glass materials. The thickness of biofilms, analyzed by confocal laser microscopy was 40μm for both materials. These biofilms are able to efficiently trap most of the glass constituents, some of them being potentially toxic. They also form a protective barrier at the solid/solution interface. Alteration rates were determined at the end of the experiments. The basaltic glass deteriorated with a rate of 18.3 10-4g.m-2.d-1 in biotic conditions and 29.8 10-4g.m-2.d-1 in the sterile system. The nuclear glass had a dissolution rate of 17.6 10^{- 4}g.m-2.d-1 in the biotic experiment and 25.0 10-4g.m-2.d-1in the sterile medium.