Biological treatment of TNT-contaminated soil. 2: Biologically induced immobilization of the contaminants and full-scale application

Journal Article · Wed Jul 01 04:00:00 EDT 1998 · Environmental Science and Technology

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/es970950t· OSTI ID:642241

Lenke, H; Daun, G; Sieglen, U; Knackmuss, H J ^[1]; Warrelmann, J; Walter, U ^[2]; Hund, K ^[3]

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1. Fraunhofer-Inst. fuer Grenzflaechen und Bioverfahrenstechnik, Stuttgart (Germany)
2. Umweltschutz Nord GmbH and Co., Ganderkesee (Germany)
3. Fraunhofer Inst. fuer Umweltchemie und Oekotoxikologie, Schmallenberg-Grafschaft (Germany)

Anaerobic treatment of originally contaminated soil from a former ammunition plant was carried out in a laboratory slurry reactor. While fermenting glucose to ethanol, acetate, and propionate, the anaerobic bacteria completely reduced the nitro groups of 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) and aminodinitrotoluenes, which led to a complete and irreversible binding of the reduced products to the soil. 2,4-dinitrotoluene and hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine were also reduced in the soil slurry and were no longer detectable after the anaerobic treatment. To mineralize the fermentation products, a subsequent aerobic treatment was necessary to complete the bioremediation process. This bioremediation process was tested in a technical scale at Hessisch Lichtenau-Hirschhagen, Germany. A sludge reactor (Terranox system) was filled with 18 m{sup 3} of contaminated soil (main contaminants were TNT, 2,4-dinitrotoluene, hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine) and 10 m{sup 3} of water. The anaerobic stage was carried out by periodical feeding of sucrose. The sludge was subsequently dewatered and treated aerobically. Chemical analysis revealed an overall reduction of more than 99% of the contaminants. Ecotoxicological tests performed with various aquatic systems (luminescent bacteria, daphnids, algae) and terrestrial systems (respiring bacteria, nitrifying bacteria, cress plants, earth worms) showed that residual toxicity could not be detected after the anaerobic/aerobic treatment.

• OSTI ID: 642241
• Journal Information: Environmental Science and Technology, Journal Name: Environmental Science and Technology Journal Issue: 13 Vol. 32; ISSN ESTHAG; ISSN 0013-936X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

45 MILITARY TECHNOLOGY, WEAPONRY, AND NATIONAL DEFENSE
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ANAEROBIC CONDITIONS
BIODEGRADATION
BIOREACTORS
GLUCOSE
REMEDIAL ACTION
SOILS
TNT