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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Anaerobic biodegradation of pesticides and TNT: Site emerging technology demonstration

Conference ·
OSTI ID:111475
 [1];  [2]
  1. Risk Reduction Engineering Lab. (RREL), Cincinnati, OH (United States)
  2. SAIC, Idaho Falls, ID (United States)

J.R. Simplot, Inc. is a multiconglomerate whose initial interest was in the production of potatoes in the Pacific Northwest. This has lead them into the agricultural chemical business including pesticides. Dinoseb (a carcinogenic herbicide used to kill the foliage of potato plants allowing for easier harvesting) was used by them and after Its ban in the U.S., J.R. Simplot realized the only acceptable way to dispose of dinoseb contaminated soils was to incinerate them at considerable cost. Thus J.R. Simplot became interested in developing a disposal solution that would be less cost prohibitive and as effective as incineration. J.R. Simplot submitted a proposal and was accepted into the SITE Emerging Technology Program to optimize the anaerobic biodegradation of nitroaeromatics (dinoseb) contaminated soils with the addition of water, pH buffers, and potato waste as a source of starch. This work ultimately resulted in a good understanding of the biological and chemical process of destruction (optimum conditions of 35 and 37 degrees C, and pH of approximately 7, leads to destruction in 14 days) of both dinoseb and TNT and in several peer reviewed publications.

OSTI ID:
111475
Report Number(s):
CONF-9504110--
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English