Microbial degradation of non-polar nitroaromatic compounds
- Catholic Univ. of Louvain, Louvain-la-Neuve (Belgium)
Using a semi-continuous enrichment technique, a microbial consortium able to degrade aerobically a spectrum of nitroaromatic compounds (NACs) has been obtained. At least four NACs are degraded efficiently in the presence of an external C-source: 2-nitrotoluene (2-NT), 2,4-dinitrotoluene (2,4-DNT), 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) and 1,3-dini-trobenzene (1,3-DNB). The microorganisms degrade the NACs by a reductive pathway, as shown by the presence of ammonium and aminoaromatic compounds, such as 4-amino-2-NT and 2-amino-4-NT (reduction products of 2,4-DNT) and 2-aminotoluene (product of 2-NT). The latter compounds appear transiently in the medium and are further degraded. The degradation kinetics are highly dependent on C-source and on pH. No abiotic transformation of 1,3-DNB or 2-4-DNT was detected, whereas about 10% of the TNT disappearance observed in the presence of the microbial consortium could be attributed to an abiotic route. The latter is strongly influenced by pH, higher values of which allow a larger extent of abiotic TNT transformation.
- OSTI ID:
- 126132
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-950402--
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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