Isosaccharinic acid

Since 1993, the diastereomers of isosaccharinic acid have received particular attention in the literature due to its ability to complex a range of radionuclides, potentially affecting their migration. ISA is formed as a result of interactions between cellulosic materials present within the intermediate level waste inventory various countries and the alkalinity resulting from the use of cementitious materials in the construction of a deep geological repository. Greenfield et al. (1993), have discovered that ISA and constituents formed in a cellulose degradation leachate were capable of forming soluble complexes with thorium, uranium (IV) and plutonium. In the case of plutonium, ISA concentrations higher than 10−5 M were capable of increasing solubility above pH 12.0, where concentrations of 1-5 × 10−3 M were found to increase the solubility by an order of magnitude from 10−5 to 10−4 M. Allard et al. (2006) found that a concentration of ISA of 2 × 10−3 M could increase plutonium solubility by a factor of 2 × 105. In addition a range of studies on the complexation properties of α-isosaccharinic acid in alkaline solutions with various metals of different valence, including nickel (II), europium (III), americium (III) and thorium (IV), have been conducted. Vercammen et al. (2001) showed that although Ca(α-ISA)2 is sparingly soluble, both europium (III) and thorium (IV) were capable of forming soluble complexes with ISA between pH 10.7 and 13.3, where a mixed metal complex was observed in the presence of thorium. Cellulose degradation product leachates were first produced by contacting cellulose sources (wood, rad wipes or cotton wool) with calcium hydroxide (pH 12.7) under anaerobic conditions. Analysis of the leachates across 1 000 days suggested that the primary product of the degradation was ISA, although a range of other organic compounds were formed and varied across cellulose source. In these experiments both ISA and X-ISA were able to increase the solubility of europium at pH 12, where in experiments with thorium ISA had a more profound effect on thorium solubility than X-ISA, for which little effect was observed. More recently, a systematic study was published on the interactions between plutonium, ISA, and cement, as well as sorption. The investigation was focused on repository-like conditions, including high pH due to cementitious materials and low redox potential. The predominant species at various conditions were identified, including quaternary materials such as Ca(II)Pu(IV)(OH)3ISA–H+. The sorption of Pu on cement was found to be significantly lowered due to complexation with ISA. == Microbial activity in a geological disposal facility ==

ISA also represents a major carbon source within a geological disposal facility (GDF) since it comprises >70% of cellulose degradation products as a result of alkaline hydrolysis. The high pH associated with the massive use of concrete in such a facility means that microbial activity may or may not occur within the alkaline disturbed zone depending on the local microbial consortia intruding upon or surrounding such a facility in the post closure phase. Initial studies have shown that both alpha and beta forms of ISA are readily available for microbial activity under the anaerobic conditions expected within the far field of a disposal facility or within ungrouted waste packages. Since the pH of pore water within the near field of a disposal facility is expected to fall from 13.5 to 12.5 − 10 over tens of thousands of years, the ability of micro-organisms to adapt to these alkaline pH values has also been investigated. Mesophilic consortia have been shown to adapt to a pH of 10 within a number of weeks, ISA degradation ceased above pH 11.0. Microbial consortia from hyperalkaline environments in which exposure to pH > 11.0 has occurred for over a century have also been exposed to ISA generated from the alkaline hydrolysis of organic matter in situ. This consortia was readily capable of degrading ISA. It can also exist as polymicrobial flocculates, which has shown to be able of survival up to pH 12.5. As a result, the impact of microbial activity within a GDF is expected to be through the degradation of ISA's and production of gas, which may create overpressure but also through the generation of 14C bearing gases. ==See also==