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

Bioremediation of TNT-contaminated soil by the TERRANOX{reg_sign} system

Conference ·
OSTI ID:479368
; ; ;  [1]; ;  [2];  [3]
  1. Umweltschutz Nord GmbH and Co., Ganderkesee (Germany)
  2. Fraunhofer Inst. fuer Grenzflaechen und Bioverfahrenstechnik, Stuttgurt (Germany)
  3. Univ. of Stuttgart (Germany)

A method for biological on-site treatment of 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT)-contaminated soil is presented. Laboratory and large-scale pilot experiments provide new data on how TNT and its bacterial metabolites (such as aminoaromatic chemicals) can be detoxified. The pilot project is performed in a controlled biological anaerobic/aerobic treatment process using a bioreactor called TERRANOX{reg_sign}. Experiences with TNT-contaminated soil from several former TNT production sites in Germany are based on extensive laboratory-scale experiments indicating that TNT disappears completely under strictly anaerobic conditions. A stable polymeric substances that is not able to leak out of the soil anymore is generated in the second step of the process from 2,4,6-triaminotoluene (TAT) by aerobic treatment. The careful analysis of this immobilization process, long-term behavior of the product, and ecotoxicological data are currently being investigated.

Sponsoring Organization:
Bundesministerium fuer Forschung und Technologie, Bonn (Germany)
OSTI ID:
479368
Report Number(s):
CONF-950483--; ISBN 1-57477-010-1
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English