In vitro anaerobic trinitrotoluene (TNT) degradation with rumen fluid ...

In Vitro Anaerobic Trinitrotoluene(TNT) Degradation with Rumen Fluid and
An Isolate, G.8
1.1 Background
Chapter 1. Introduction
Since World War II, 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) has been widely used in the
production of explosives because of its low boiling point, stability, low sensitivity to
impact, and its relatively safe methods of manufacture. Since this development,
manufacturing products and wastes containing TNT have contributed to contaminated
environments (23). The contamination of over 1,100 military facilities potentially
contaminated with munitions waste will require that greater than 1,000,000 cubic
yards of contaminated soil be treated (2)
Explosive wastes are also toxic to some aquatic organisms (9,27). Concerns
about toxic health effects arise from evidence linking extensive occupational contact to
TNT with increased incidence of aplastic anemia, liver damage, dermatitis, ocular
disorders, and gastrointestinal distress. With respect to these concerns, initiatives
undertaken to assess the content of existing waste disposal sites and to search for
environmentally acceptable ways to remediate contaminated soils have been supported
by military and other government agencies (23).
The most practical approach to the remediation of explosives is currently soil
incineration, but it can be a costly, energy-intensive process that destroys much of the
soil, leaving ash as the primary residue with estimates approaching $800/ton (13).
Chemical treatment requires the exercise of rigid controls to avoid the discharge of
unreacted materials and is not practical in many situations. It is believed that the