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Biotransformation of pink water TNT on the surface of a low-cost adsorbent pine bark

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Abstract

This two-week anaerobic batch study evaluated 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) removal efficiency from industrial pink water by (1) adsorption on low-cost adsorbent pine bark, and (2) adsorption coupled with TNT biotransformation by specialised microbial communities. Samples of the supernatant and acetonitrile extracts of pine bark were analysed by HPLC, while the composition of the bacterial community of the experimental batches, inocula and pine bark were profiled by high-throughput sequencing the V6 region of the bacterial 16S rRNA gene. Integrated adsorption and biotransformation proved to be the most efficient method for TNT removal from pink water. The type of applied inoculum had a profound effect on TNT removal efficiencies and microbial community structures, which were dominated by phylotypes belonging to the Enterobacteriaceae family. The analysis of acetonitrile extracts of pine bark supported the hypothesis that the microbial community indigenous to pine bark has the ability to degrade TNT.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank Zugol AB (Falun, Sweden) for supplying the pine bark and Mara Grube for useful discussions. In addition, we would like to acknowledge the project financing partners: Knowledge Foundation, Nammo Vingåkersverken AB, KCEM AB, Bofors Test Center AB, Cesium AB and Eriksson Patent AB. Participation of J. Truu, M. Truu, H. Nõlvak, and K. Oopkaup in study was supported by the Ministry of Education and Research of the Republic of Estonia (Grant IUT2-16), and by the European Regional Development Fund through ENVIRON (Centre of Excellence in Environmental Adaptation).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Business, Society and Engineering, Mälardalen University, P.O. Box 883, 721 23, Västerås, Sweden

    O. Chusova, M. Odlare & E. Nehrenheim

  2. Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Tartu, Vanemuise 46, 51014, Tartu, Estonia

    H. Nõlvak, J. Truu, M. Truu & K. Oopkaup

Authors
  1. O. Chusova
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  2. H. Nõlvak
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  3. M. Odlare
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  4. J. Truu
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  5. M. Truu
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  6. K. Oopkaup
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  7. E. Nehrenheim
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Correspondence to O. Chusova.

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Chusova, O., Nõlvak, H., Odlare, M. et al. Biotransformation of pink water TNT on the surface of a low-cost adsorbent pine bark. Biodegradation 26, 375–386 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10532-015-9740-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10532-015-9740-7

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