title: Laboratory and pilot-scale bioremediation of pentaerythritol tetranitrate (PETN) contaminated soil.
abstract: PETN (pentaerythritol tetranitrate), a munitions constituent, is commonly encountered in munitions-contaminated soils, and pose a serious threat to aquatic organisms. This study investigated anaerobic remediation of PETN-contaminated soil at a site near Denver Colorado. Both granular iron and organic carbon amendments were used in both laboratory and pilot-scale tests. The laboratory results showed that, with various organic carbon amendments, PETN at initial concentrations of between 4500 and 5000mg/kg was effectively removed within 84 days. In the field trial, after a test period of 446 days, PETN mass removal of up to 53,071mg/kg of PETN (80%) was achieved with an organic carbon amendment (DARAMEND) of 4% by weight. In previous laboratory studies, granular iron has shown to be highly effective in degrading PETN. However, for both the laboratory and pilot-scale tests, granular iron was proven to be ineffective. This was a consequence of passivation of the iron surfaces caused by the very high concentrations of nitrate in the contaminated soil. This study indicated that low concentration of organic carbon was a key factor limiting bioremediation of PETN in the contaminated soil. Furthermore, the addition of organic carbon amendments such as the DARAMEND materials or brewers grain, proved to be highly effective in stimulating the biodegradation of PETN and could provide the basis for full-scale remediation of PETN-contaminated sites.
authors: Guangdong Institute of Eco-environmental and Soil Sciences, Guangzhou 510650, China. Electronic address: lzhuang@soil.gd.cn.
authors: Li
authors: L
authors: Zhuang
authors: Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario N2L 3G1, Canada; Pest Management and Regulatory Agency, Health Canada, Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0K9, Canada.
authors: Lai
authors: L
authors: Gui
authors: Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario N2L 3G1, Canada.
authors: Robert W
authors: RW
authors: Gillham
authors: E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company, Wilmington, DE 19880, USA.
authors: Richard C
authors: RC
authors: Landis
mesh_terms: D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D007501:Iron; D009930:Organic Chemicals; D010417:Pentaerythritol Tetranitrate; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012989:Soil Pollutants
chemical_list: D009930:Organic Chemicals; D012989:Soil Pollutants; D010417:Pentaerythritol Tetranitrate; D007501:Iron
keywords: Bioremediation; Explosive; Granular iron; Organic carbon source; Pentaerythritol tetranitrate