Metabolism of TNT associated with roots of higher plants
- Kansas State Univ., Manhattan, KS (United States). Dept. of Biochemistry
Contamination with 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) is widespread at sites of past munitions manufacture. It is moderately toxic to plants and highly toxic to some animals. Some aquatic plant species have been observed to promote degradation of TNT. The degradative activity is associated with the root systems but products are found in the surrounding medium. The authors have examined a range of sixteen genera of non-aquatic plants grown hydroponically to determine whether the promotion of TNT degradation is a general phenomenon of plant root systems. All tested species showed the ability to reduce TNT extensively. Rates varied several fold when calculated on a wet weight of tissue basis. Isolated roots, disrupted roots, and root extracts generally showed less activity than intact roots attached to the plants. Water in which the plants had been grown did not promote degradation.
- Sponsoring Organization:
- Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC (United States)
- OSTI ID:
- 422864
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-9605266-; TRN: IM9707%%171
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: 9. Annual conference on hazardous waste remediation, Bozeman, MT (United States), 8-10 Jun 1994; Other Information: PBD: 1996; Related Information: Is Part Of Proceedings of the 1996 Hazardous Substance Research Center/Waste-management Education and Research Consortium joint conference on the environment; Erickson, L.E. [ed.] [Kansas State Univ., Manhattan, KS (United States)]; Grant, S.C. [ed.] [Haskell Indian Nations Univ., Lawrence, KS (United States)]; Tillison, D.L.; McDonald, J.P. [eds.]; PB: 706 p.
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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