title: Explosive biodegradation in soil slurry batch reactors amended with exogenous microorganisms.
abstract: The present study explores the feasibility of biotreatment of 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) and hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro- 1,3,5-triazine (RDX)-contaminated soils in slurry batch reactors. Radiorespirometric assays showed that anaerobic sludge was able to mineralize 59% RDX to CO2 although significant mineralization of TNT was not observed in all cases. TNT and RDX at concentrations higher than 50 and 100 mg/L respectively were inhibitory to methanogenesis (used as a bioindicator), however, methanogenesis recovered after TNT was transformed into less toxic triaminotoluene. Bioslurry batch reactors containing 40% of contaminated soil (2000 mg RDX and 1000 mg TNT/kg dry soil) were operated under various conditions. Both TNT and RDX were persistent to soil indigenous microbes. Degradation of both TNT and RDX was enhanced by the municipal sludge amendment, although degradation of RDX was only achieved under anaerobic conditions.
authors.affiliation: Environmental Bioengineering Group, Biotechnology Research Institute, National Research Council, 6100 Royalmount Avenue, Montréal, Québec H4P 2R2, Canada.
authors.forename: C F
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Hawari
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Paquet
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ampleman
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Thiboutot
authors.forename: S R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Guiot
mesh_terms: D000332:Aerobiosis; D000693:Anaerobiosis; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D019149:Bioreactors / Q000382:microbiology*; D005107:Explosions; D012722:Sewage; D012988:Soil Microbiology; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000378:metabolism; D014227:Triazines / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism; D014303:Trinitrotoluene / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D012722:Sewage; D012989:Soil Pollutants; D014227:Triazines; D014303:Trinitrotoluene; C009160:cyclonite