Details of Grant 

EPSRC Reference:	GR/R39979/01
Title:	Bacterial Clay Formation for the Geological Containment of Wastes
Principal Investigator:	Edyvean, Dr R
Other Investigators:
Researcher Co-Investigators:
Project Partners:	British Geological Survey
Department:	Chemical & Biological Engineering
Organisation:	University of Sheffield
Scheme:	Standard Research (Pre-FEC)
Starts:	01 March 2001	Ends:	29 February 2004	Value (£):	61,838
EPSRC Research Topic Classifications:	Population Ecology Waste Management
EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications:	Environment
Related Grants:
Panel History:
Summary on Grant Application Form
This project aims to determine the role of microorganisms in the formation of secondary clay minerals in porous rock. The formation of secondary clay results in the entrapment of fine particles in the biofilms developed in the pore spaces, thus resulting in total blockage of the porous matrix. Understanding of the interaction of microbiological processes in secondary clay formation has potential benefits to a range of process applications including reduced permeability of landfill liners and enhanced integrity of engineered barriers for waste containment. Experiments will be performed under different conditions and will utilise sulphate reducing bacteria and iron reducing bacteria reacting with single and mixed mineral assemblages and whole rock samples in specially designed anaerobic reactor environments. Different reactor designs will be evaluated and modified to optimise secondary clay formation, enabling its detailed composition to be determined. The influence of microbial processes will be determined. The experimental data will be evaluated using geochemical and microbiological models.The research will be carried out collaboratively, with the work being led by a biologist at Sheffield and a geomicrobiologist from the BGS. The complementary expertise of the collaborators provides the experience to carry out all parts of the project.
Key Findings
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Organisation Website:	http://www.shef.ac.uk