Soil Sorption and Plant Uptake of 2,4,6-Trinitrotoluene
Abstract
Potential environmental hazards are posed by the presence of 2,4,6- Trinitrotoluene (TNT) contamination in soils of US Army Ammunition Plants (AAPs) . Adsorption and desorption studies were conducted on soil samples collected from 13 AAPs. Soils were found to be primarily silt loams, low in organic carbon. TNT reached a steady state of adsorption with test soils within 2 hr of contact. Desorption also reached steady state within 2 hr with more than half of the adsorbed TNT being removed. TNT adsorption correlated most highly with cation exchange capacity, extractable iron, clay content, and percent organic carbon. Sequential desorption indicated that almost all of the adsorbed TNT was desorbed after three sequential desorption cycles. Therefore, soil sorption will not effectively prevent mobility of TNT in the environment unless adsorption increases over extended periods of time or more strongly adsorbing decomposition products are formed. Microbial degradation appeared to be greater in reduced than in oxidized soils, but differences were not significant. Plant uptake of TNT and two of its principal degradation products, 4-amino-2, 6-dinitrotoluene (4ADNT) and 2-amino-4, 6-dinitrotoluene (2ADNT), was also investigated. Results of the study suggest that plant uptake from soils contaminated with 80 micros of the respective treatment compound per gram will not be environmentally significant.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 01, 1988
- Accession Number
- ADA200502
Entities
People
- Judith C. Pennington
Organizations
- United States Army Biological Warfare Laboratories