The Oxidative Microbial Degradation of 2,4,6-Trinitrotoluene (TNT)
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Authors
Stenger, Mary Ruth
Issue Date
1990
Type
Thesis
Language
en_US
Keywords
Alternative Title
Abstract
The explosive nature, toxicity and mutagenic capabilities of
explosives make them a primary environmental concern. The most
commonly used explosive is 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT). The problem of
cleaning up many of the contaminated sites in the environment can be
addressed using oxidative microbial degradation. Several bacteria
which are believed to catabolize TNT as a carbon source have been
isolated from soil. Biochemical tests were used to identify these bacteria.
Both mixed and pure cultures were grown with succinate as a
supplemental carbon source, as well as TNT since the bacteria had to be
actively growing before optimal utilization of TNT could take place.
Mixed cultures of these bacteria were tested for growth on six separate
aromatic compounds as their sole carbon sources, and were foundto
grow on only benzyl alcohol and benzaldehyde. Use of a pre-exposure
to toluene and benzyl alcohol as it affected growth on TNT was also
tested. Mixed cultures exposed to toluene before addition of TNT
appeared to have enzymes induced which increased the degradation of
TNT, while pre-exposure to benzyl alcohol had no effect. TNT may be
converted to toluene by oxidative removal of the nitro groups at which
point degradation is slowed by the presence of a large amount of toluene
which can be toxic if concentrations accumulate to too high a level.
Description
v, 31 p.
Citation
Publisher
Kalamazoo College
License
U.S. copyright laws protect this material. Commercial use or distribution of this material is not permitted without prior written permission of the copyright holder.