title: Microorganisms and explosives: mechanisms of nitrogen release from TNT for use as an N-source for growth.
abstract: Unstable reduced derivatives of 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) produced by microorganisms have been found to release nitrite by rearomatization and/or condensation. Here, we present further information regarding the novel mechanism of the condensation of reactive hydroxylaminodinitrotoluene and the Meisenheimer dihydride complex of TNT to produce two secondary diarylamine isomers. Using uniformly 15N-labeled (15N3) TNT, we show that the nitrite is being released by the condensation reaction and, also under environmental conditions, will originate from the microbiologically generated dihydride complex.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Protección Ambiental, Estación Experimental del Zaidín, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Calle Profesor Albareda 1, E-18008 Granada, Spain. rolf.wittich@eez.csic.es
authors.forename: Rolf-Michael
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Wittich
authors.forename: Juan Luis
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Ramos
authors.forename: Pieter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: van Dillewijn
mesh_terms: D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000378:metabolism*; D011549:Pseudomonas / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism; D014303:Trinitrotoluene / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D014303:Trinitrotoluene; D009584:Nitrogen