Biotransformation of 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene with Phanaerochaete chrysosporium in agitated cultures at pH 4. 5

Journal Article · Thu Jul 01 04:00:00 EDT 1999 · Applied and Environmental Microbiology

OSTI ID:6428745

Hawari, J; Halasz, A; Beaudet, S; Paquet, L ^[1]; Ampleman, G; Thiboutot, S ^[2]

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1. National Research Council, Montreal, Quebec (Canada). Biotechnology Research Inst.
2. National Defence, Val Belair, Quebec (Canada). Defence Research Establishment Valcartier

The biotransformation of 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) by Phanerochaete chrysosporium with molasses and citric acid at pH 4.5 was studied. In less than 2 weeks, TNT disappeared completely, but mineralization did not exceed 1%. A time study revealed the presence of several intermediates, marked by the initial formation of two monohydroxylaminodinitrotoluenes (2- and 4-HADNT) followed by their successive transformation to several other products, including monoaminodinitrotoluenes (ADNT). A group of nine acylated intermediates were also detected. They included 2-N-acetylamido-4,6-dinitrotoluene and its p isomer, 2-formylamido-4,6-dinitrotoluene and its p isomer (as acylated ADNT), 4-N-acetylamino-2-amino-6-nitrotoluene and 4-N-formylamido-2-amino-6-nitrotoluene (as acetylated DANT), 4-N-acetylhydroxy-2,6-dinitrotoluene and 4-N-acetoxy-2,6-dinitrotoluene (as acetylated HADNT), and finally 4-N-acetylamido-2-hydroxylamino-6-nitrotoluene. Furthermore, a fraction of HADNTs were found to rearrange to their corresponding phenolamines, while another group dimerized to azoxytoluenes which in turn transformed to azo compounds and eventually to the corresponding hydrazo derivatives. After 30 days, all of these metabolites, except traces of 4-ADNT and the hydrazo derivatives, disappeared, but mineralization did not exceed 10% even after the incubation period was increased to 120 days.

• OSTI ID: 6428745
• Journal Information: Applied and Environmental Microbiology, Journal Name: Applied and Environmental Microbiology Vol. 65:7; ISSN AEMIDF; ISSN 0099-2240
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

45 MILITARY TECHNOLOGY, WEAPONRY, AND NATIONAL DEFENSE
450100 -- Military Technology
Weaponry
& National Defense-- Chemical Explosions & Explosives
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540220* -- Environment
Terrestrial-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (1990-)
BIODEGRADATION
CHEMICAL EXPLOSIVES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
DECOMPOSITION
EUMYCOTA
EXPLOSIVES
FUNGI
NITRO COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
PHANEROCHAETE
PLANTS
REMEDIAL ACTION
SOILS
TNT