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

Journal Article · · Applied and Environmental Microbiology
OSTI ID:6428745
; ; ;  [1]; ;  [2]
  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