title: Fate of CL-20 in sandy soils: degradation products as potential markers of natural attenuation.
abstract: Hexanitrohexaazaisowurtzitane (CL-20) is an emerging explosive that may replace the currently used explosives such as RDX and HMX, but little is known about its fate in soil. The present study was conducted to determine degradation products of CL-20 in two sandy soils under abiotic and biotic anaerobic conditions. Biotic degradation was prevalent in the slightly acidic VT soil, which contained a greater organic C content, while the slightly alkaline SAC soil favored hydrolysis. CL-20 degradation was accompanied by the formation of formate, glyoxal, nitrite, ammonium, and nitrous oxide. Biotic degradation of CL-20 occurred through the formation of its denitrohydrogenated derivative (m/z 393 Da) while hydrolysis occurred through the formation of a ring cleavage product (m/z 156 Da) that was tentatively identified as CH(2)=N-C(=N-NO(2))-CH=N-CHO or its isomer N(NO(2))=CH-CH=N-CO-CH=NH. Due to their chemical specificity, these two intermediates may be considered as markers of in situ attenuation of CL-20 in soil.
authors.affiliation: Biotechnology Research Institute, National Research Council of Canada, 6100 Royalmount Avenue, Montréal, Québec, Canada H4P 2R2. fanny.monteil@cnrc-nrc.gc.ca
authors.forename: Fanny
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Monteil-Rivera
authors.forename: Annamaria
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Halasz
authors.forename: Dominic
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Manno
authors.forename: Roman G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Kuperman
authors.forename: Sonia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Thiboutot
authors.forename: Guy
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ampleman
authors.forename: Jalal
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hawari
mesh_terms: D001372:Aza Compounds / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D053834:Explosive Agents / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D006571:Heterocyclic Compounds / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D012822:Silicon Dioxide; D012987:Soil / Q000032:analysis*; D012988:Soil Microbiology; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: C482139:2,4,6,8,10,12-hexanitro-2,4,6,8,10,12-hexaaza-isowurtzitane; D001372:Aza Compounds; D053834:Explosive Agents; D006571:Heterocyclic Compounds; D012987:Soil; D012989:Soil Pollutants; D012822:Silicon Dioxide