Soil sorption and plant uptake of 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene

Thesis/Dissertation · Thu Dec 31 23:00:00 EST 1987

OSTI ID:7148034

Pennington, J C

Potential environmental hazards are posed by the presence of 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) contamination in soils of US Army Ammunition Plants (AAPs). Adsorption and desorption studies were conducted on soil samples collected from 13 AAPs. TNT adsorption correlated most highly with cation exchange capacity, extractable iron, clay content, and percent organic carbon. Sequential desorption indicated that almost all of the adsorbed TNT was desorbed after three sequential desorption cycles. Plant uptake of TNT and two of its principal degradation products, 4-amino-2,6-dinitrotoluene (4ADNT) and 2-amino-4,6-dinitrotoluene (2ADNT), was also investigated. Results indicated that little TNT and 4ADNT, and no 2ADNT was absorbed by leafy portions of the test plant, yellow nutsedge (Cyperus esculentus). Plant uptake was greatest from 4ADNT-treated silts, an indication that 4ADNT is more readily mobilized into the plant than TNT or 2ANDT. Greater plant uptake from silt than from clay indicated that bioavailability is reduced in the clay. The reduction in bioavailability may be due to an increase in soil sorption of TNT and its degradation products over time.

• Research Organization: Louisiana State Univ. and Agricultural and Mechanical Coll., Baton Rouge, LA (USA)
• OSTI ID: 7148034
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540220* -- Environment
Terrestrial-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (1990-)
560300 -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ABSORPTION
BIOLOGICAL AVAILABILITY
CONTAMINATION
DESORPTION
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
ION EXCHANGE
LAND POLLUTION
METABOLISM
MILITARY FACILITIES
NITRO COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
PLANTS
POLLUTION
ROOT ABSORPTION
SOILS
SORPTION
UPTAKE