title: Applicability of alkaline hydrolysis for remediation of TNT-contaminated water.
abstract: This study was conducted to assess the applicability of alkaline hydrolysis as an alternative ex situ technology for remediating 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT)-contaminated water. TNT reactivity had a strong dependence on the reaction pH (11-12) and initial TNT (5-25 mg L(-1)) in batch systems, resulting in pseudo first-order transformation rate, k ranging between 1.9 x 10(-3) and 9.3 x 10(-5) min(-1). In continuous flow stirred-tank reactor (CFSTR) systems with initial TNT of 1 mg L(-1), the highest 74% of TNT reduction was achieved at the reaction pH of 11.9 and 2-day hydraulic retention time under steady-state condition. Oxalate was produced as the major hydrolysate in the CFSTRs, indicating a ring cleavage during alkaline hydrolysis. It was also believed that TNT alkaline hydrolysis occurred through the production of color-forming intermediates via dimerization. It is concluded that alkaline hydrolysis can be an alternative treatment technology for remediation of TNT-contaminated water.
authors.affiliation: Department of Civil Engineering and Surveying, University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez, PR 00680, USA. shwang@uprm.edu
authors.forename: Sangchul
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.forename: Timothy J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Ruff
authors.forename: Edward J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Bouwer
authors.forename: Steven L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Larson
authors.forename: Jeffrey L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Davis
mesh_terms: D000468:Alkalies / Q000737:chemistry; D003116:Color; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D006868:Hydrolysis; D007700:Kinetics; D017186:Titrimetry; D014303:Trinitrotoluene / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000378:metabolism*; D018508:Water Purification / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D000468:Alkalies; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D014867:Water; D014303:Trinitrotoluene