Potential for Biodegradation of the Alkaline Hydrolysis End Products of TNT and RDX
Abstract
Energetic compounds, such as 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT), hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine (RDX), and their degradation products, can act as a source of contamination for soil on Department of Defense testing and training ranges. Base-catalyzed hydrolysis degrades nitroaromatics and nitramines, and the potential effectiveness of this reaction in soil has been demonstrated at both bench and pilot scales. This report evaluates the potential for soil bacteria to degrade the transformation products from the alkaline hydrolysis of munitions residues. The media were obtained from the hydrolytic destruction of TNT and RDX at pH 12.5, 11.5, and 10.5. Duplicate reactors were amended with [14C]-labeled explosive compounds. Bench-scale microcosms incubated aerobically and anaerobically using grenade range soil as the inoculum and reaction mixtures (quenched and neutralized) as the media showed that there is a potential for biodegradation. Nutrient analysis confirmed the presence of increased levels of nitrite and formate following both aerobic and anaerobic incubation. TNT end products from alkaline hydrolysis were aerobically mineralized, with 16% [14C]-label recovered as CO2. RDX reaction end products demonstrated much greater mineralization than TNT (roughly threefold). The use of alkaline material on training ranges has the potential to treat source-zone energetics contamination.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Nov 01, 2007
- Accession Number
- ADA474432
Entities
People
- Catherine C. Nestler
- Deborah R. Felt
- Jeffrey L. Davis
- Steven L. Larson
Organizations
- Engineer Research and Development Center