This technology makes use of the ability of live cells or enzymes to clean and reduce the volume of waste. For some elements, this reduced ion is insoluble, so it precipitates out of solution as a solid. These precipitates can be recovered easily, then isolated and contained. Using a specific species of microorganism results in uranium uptake equal to 900 per cent of the live cells' dry mass or 9 grams of uranium per gram of dry cells. Another species, which absorbs 11 grams of uranium per gram of dry cells, has been shown to precipitate relatively pure uranium oxide which is easily recoverable.
Many unknowns remain.
However, with so few answers to the problem of radioactive waste, such explorations must continue. From an unpublished report for the Nuclear Guardianship Forum by Rose Kirkham, summarized by Anthony Phillipson.