Biological reduction of TNT as part of a combined biological-chemical procedure for mineralization.
The explosive 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT), one of the most abundant and persistent contaminants at former armament factories and military sites, was cometabolically reduced by sludge (mixed culture) from a sewage plant in order to facilitate mineralization in a subsequent photochemical treatment. Under aerobic conditions, the main reduction products were aminodinitrotoluenes (ADNTs). A greater amount of the nitroaromatics (ca. 30%) was adsorbed by the sludge as was shown by a complete balance of the process using 14C-TNT. Under anaerobic conditions, TNT was further converted into ADNTs and diaminonitrotoluenes (DANTs) while only negligible adsorption to the sludge occured.
Faculty of Science, Department of Chemistry, University of Paderborn, Warburger Str. 100, D-33098 Paderborn, Germany.
Mario
M
Kröger
Martina E
ME
Schumacher
Heike
H
Risse
Gregor
G
Fels
D000327:Adsorption; D000332:Aerobiosis; D000693:Anaerobiosis; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D002250:Carbon Radioisotopes; D003470:Culture Media; D015394:Molecular Structure; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D011851:Radioactivity; D012722:Sewage / Q000032:analysis; D013395:Sucrose / Q000032:analysis; D014303:Trinitrotoluene / Q000378:metabolism*
D002250:Carbon Radioisotopes; D003470:Culture Media; D012722:Sewage; D014303:Trinitrotoluene; D013395:Sucrose