AASERT 97 - Role of Clostridial Reducing Power in Nitroaryl Compound Degradation
Abstract
Pseudomonas that uses TNT as a nitrogen source. Biological remediation of pollutants in soils and groundwater is often desirable due to its relative low cost and effectiveness compared to other treatment technologies. Nitroaromatic compounds such as TNT are resistant to biological oxidation due to the electrophilic nature of the nitro groups and their subsequent stabilization of the aromatic ring. In the past twenty-five years numerous studies have researched methods to bioremediate TNT-contaminated soils and waters. These methods include composting, aerobic slurry reactors, in situ stimulation, anaerobic reactors and studies with pure strains of aerobic and anaerobic bacteria and fungi. Most of these studies have shown that in addition to the productive degradation of TNT, many reactions occur in which partially degraded metabolites of TNT condense and become more recalcitrant than the parent molecule. Recent research on pure strains of aerobic bacteria that use TNT as a nitrogen source has shown, unfortunately, that non-productive reactions (reduction) compete with productive (denitration) reactions during growth on TNT as a sole nitrogen source. We have characterized an aerobic bacterium, which was isolated from a TNT-contaminated site in Armenia. This isolate grows in minimal media with TNT (30-120 ppm) as a sole nitrogen source. A greater understanding of the genes, which catalyze the initial steps of productive TNT metabolism may lead to the construction of hybrids that can degrade TNT in a more efficient manner.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 18, 2001
- Accession Number
- ADA387135
Entities
People
- Ronald Crawford
Organizations
- University of Idaho