Toxicity of TNT Wastewaters to Aquatic Organisms. Volume 2. Acute Toxicity of Condensate Wastewater and 2,4-Dinitrotoluene
Abstract
Condensate wastewater is a distillation product of red water, which is produces at U.S. Army ammunition plants during the continuous manufacture of 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT). Condensate wastewater is composed primarily of nitroaromatic by-products of TNT manufacture. At least 30 organic compounds have been identified in the wastewater that are attributable to TNT production. The major component is 2,4-dinitrotoluene (DNT). Acute toxicity tests on red water, condensate wastewater, and 2,4-DNT produced 96-hour LC50s of 360 and 185 mg/L as total dissolved solids for red water and condensate wastewater, respectively, and 31.4 mg/L for 2,4-DNT in fathead minnows (Pimephales promelas). Exposure of condensate wastewater and 2,4-DNT to filtered UV light reduced their acute toxicity by a factor of 2, but the same treatment did not affect the acute toxicity of red water. Benzene extracts of red water and condensate wastewater were more toxic than the remaining aqueous fractions. This suggested that the nonpolar components contribute more to the toxicity of these wastewaters than the polar components. Acute toxicity tests performed on 30 of the organic components of condensate wastewater revealed two with 96-hour LC50s of less than 1.0 mg/L in fathead minnows.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 01, 1983
- Accession Number
- ADA142145
Entities
People
- David C. Jones
- David W. Liu
- Harold S Javitz
- Howard C. Bailey
- Ronald J. Spanggord
Organizations
- SRI International