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Transformation of 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) by Raoultella terrigena

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Abstract

Manufacture of nitroorganic explosives generates toxic wastes leading to contamination of soils and waters, especially groundwater. For that reason bacteria living in environments highly contaminated with 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) and other nitroorganic compounds were investigated for their capacity for TNT degradation. One isolate, Raoultella  terrigena strain HB, removed TNT at concentrations between 10 and 100 mg l−1 completely from culture supernatants under optimum aerobic conditions within several hours. Only low concentrations of nutrient supplements were needed for the cometabolic transformation process. Radioactivity measurements with ring-labelled 14C–TNT detected about 10–20% of the initial radioactivity in the culture supernatant and the residual 80–90% as water-insoluble organic compounds in the cellular pellet. HPLC analysis identified aminodinitrotoluenes (2-ADNT, 4-ADNT) and diaminonitrotoluenes (2,4-DANT) as the metabolites which remained soluble in the culture medium and azoxy-dimers as the main products in the cell extracts. Hence, the new isolate could be useful for the removal of TNT from contaminated waters.

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Abbreviations

ADNT:

aminodinitrotoluene

DANT:

diaminonitrotoluene

TN-4,4′-azo:

2,2′,6,6′-tetranitro-4,4′-azotoluene

TN-2,2′-azoxy:

4,4′,6,6′-tetranitro-2,2′-azoxytoluene

TN-4,4′-azoxy:

2,2′,6,6′-tetranitro-4,4′-azoxytoluene

TNT:

2,4,6-trinitrotoluene

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Acknowledgements

The authors appreciate a financial support by the “Zentrum für Umweltforschung der Johannes Gutenberg-Universität”. We also thank Martina Schlander for excellent technical assistance and Dr. D. Hennecke, Fraunhofer-Institut für Molekularbiologie und Angewandte Oekologie, for the combustion measurements.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Microbiology and Wine Research, Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, J. J. Becherweg 15, D-55099, Mainz, Germany

    H. Claus, I. Lehmler & H. König

  2. Institute of Geography, Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, J. J. Becherweg 21, D-55099, Mainz,, Germany

    T. Bausinger, U. Dehner & J. Preuß

  3. Faculty of Sciences, Department of Chemistry, University of Paderborn, Warburger Str. 100, D-33098, Paderborn, Germany

    N. Perret & G. Fels

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  1. H. Claus
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  2. T. Bausinger
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  3. I. Lehmler
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  4. N. Perret
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  5. G. Fels
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  6. U. Dehner
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  7. J. Preuß
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  8. H. König
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Correspondence to H. Claus.

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Claus, H., Bausinger, T., Lehmler, I. et al. Transformation of 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) by Raoultella terrigena . Biodegradation 18, 27–35 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10532-005-9033-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10532-005-9033-7

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