Biodegradation of Nitroglycerin and Perchlorate in Propellant Wastewater

Abstract

This report describes studies on the degradation of nitroglycerin and nitroglycerin/perchlorate mixtures by an anaerobic mixed culture containing the perchlorate reducing bacterium HAP1. The final goal was to demonstrate the feasibility of biotreating a model hazard class 1.1 propellant (CYH) wastewater containing these compounds. The results showed that nitroglycerin rapidly disappeared under culture growth conditions. The disappearance appeared to be due to non-enzymatic chemical denitration resulting from the strong reducing potential generated in the medium. Nitroglycerin and nitrite were shown to inhibit perchlorate reduction. Both glycering and perchlorate were degraded in 10% CYH propellant wastewater. Perchlorate reduction in 25% and 50% CYH wastewater occurred only after nitroglycerin and nitrite were predegraded and the mixture culture was reinoculated. The other major components of the CYH wastewater, trice tin and resorcinol, were not inhibitory to perchlorate reduction.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Sep 01, 1994
Accession Number
ADA361298

Entities

People

  • Hubert Attaway

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force
  • Ammonium Perchlorate
  • Chemical Reactions
  • Double Base Propellants
  • Energetic Materials
  • Explosives
  • Liquid Explosives
  • Materials
  • Materials Laboratories
  • Materials Testing
  • Nitrogen Compounds
  • Nitrogen Oxides
  • Nitroglycerin
  • Perchlorates
  • Propellants
  • Rocket Propellants
  • Solid Propellants

Fields of Study

  • Environmental science

Readers

  • Aquatic Ecology
  • Environmental Engineering.
  • Rocket Propulsion.