Full-scale anaerobic bioremediation of trinitrotoluene (TNT) contaminated soil
- Univ. of Idaho, Moscow, ID (United States); and others
An anaerobic bioremediation process for the degradation of nitroaromatic compounds in soil was demonstrated. This ex situ process was demonstrated full-scale at a 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT)-contaminated site near Weldon Spring, MO. A bioreactor was loaded with approx 23 m{sup 3} of TNT-contaminated soil in the form of a 50:50 soil: water slurry. This slurry was augmented with a starchy carbon source (1-2% w/v) and buffered with phosphate to near-neutral pH. Indigenous soil bacteria utilized the oxygen, making the slurry anaerobic within 1-2 d. Anaerobes then degraded the TNT (3000 mg/kg) in approx 11 wk. A relatively long treatment time for the bioremediation of the TNT-contaminated soil was necessary, possibly because of the cool ambient temperatures, high clay content of the soil, high level of contamination, and high level of recalcitrance of TNT in soils.
- Research Organization:
- Oak Ridge National Lab., TN (United States)
- OSTI ID:
- 150447
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-940526--
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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