Abstract
The explosive 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT), one of the most abundant and persistent contaminants at former armament factories and military sites, was cometabolically reduced by sludge (mixed culture) from a sewage plant in order to facilitate mineralization in a subsequent photochemical treatment. Under aerobic conditions, the main reduction products were aminodinitrotoluenes (ADNTs). A greater amount of the nitroaromatics (ca. 30%) was adsorbed by the sludge as was shown by a complete balance of the process using 14C-TNT. Under anaerobic conditions, TNT was further converted into ADNTs and diaminonitrotoluenes (DANTs) while only negligible adsorption to the sludge occured.
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Kröger, M., Schumacher, M.E., Risse, H. et al. Biological Reduction of TNT as Part of a Combined Biological–Chemical Procedure for Mineralization. Biodegradation 15, 241–248 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1023/B:BIOD.0000042914.53688.63
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/B:BIOD.0000042914.53688.63