Phytoremediation of Composition-B Derived TNT and RDX in Herbaceous Plant-vegetated and Bare Lysimeters
Abstract
This report describes a study in which phytoremediation of composition-B (comp-B) derived TNT and RDX was quantified in 0.5-m S. nutans (Indian grass)-vegetated organic matter and nutrient-poor soil over a 92-day period. The vegetation was allowed to establish in 0.5-m-high soil cores prior to amendment with ground comp-B mixed with the same soil, and effects and fate of comp-B derived TNT and RDX were followed in plants, soil, and leachate under greenhouse conditions. Remediation in vegetated soils exceeded that in bare soils for TNT up to a comp-B level of 218 mg kg-1, and for RDX up to a comp-B level of 73 mg kg-1. Thus, phytoremediation can be used as an effective remediation technology in a given range of explosives contamination. The greatest annual remediation potential was 58.5 g TNT m-2 and 42.4 g RDX m-2 in vegetated soils, and 54.5 g TNT m-2 and 51.0 g RDX m-2 in unvegetated soils. Remediation was attributed to a large degree to processes other than plant uptake, including bioremediation (plant-assisted or not), complexation with plant material and soil components leading to non-extractability, and photolysis (limited to the upper soil layer). Results of a comparison between 15N-based and chemical-RDX-based mass balances, with 15N derived from uniformly labeled 15N-RDX, indicated greater incorporation of 15N than of RDX in soil and plants of vegetated units than in soil of non-vegetated units.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 01, 2009
- Accession Number
- ADA529164
Entities
People
- David B. Ringelberg
- Elly P.H. Best
- Jared C. Smith
Organizations
- Engineer Research and Development Center