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

Fernando et al. (12) used a white-rot fungus, Phanerochaete chrysosporium,
to observe the biodegradation of TNT. A liquid culture of 35.4 % 1.3 mg/1 "C-TNT
was degraded to 14CO2 in 18 days; and 18.4 % "C-TNT was converted to 14CO2 in 90
days in soil cultures. In both cases, 15% of the initial "C-TNT remained in the
medium after even 90 daysof incubation. The intermediates proved to be more polar
than TNT, but were not identified.
Kulpa et al. (16) investigated TNT degradation by isolates from TNT
contaminated soils. In the presence of succinate, 3.1% of the initial "C-TNT was
converted to 14CO2, and 8-12% was converted to biomass under a cometabolic
process. A major intermediate was produced during eight days incubation, and was
accumulated over a 10-days period with small minor intermediates. However, the
intermediate under investigation was not identified.
Schackmann and Muller (26) investigated the reduction of nitroaromatic
compounds with Pseudomonas sp. The reduction mechanism was identified as the
aminization of the nitro group on the aromatic ring via nitroso and hydroxyamino
compounds. In the case of TNT, two MADNT and DAMNT were obtained, but TAT
was not detected. In crude cell-free extracts, the enzyme was inactivated by dialysis
and was reactivated by the addition of NADH or NADPH.
Williams et al. (30) investigated the clean-up of sediments contaminated with
explosives in thermophilic- and mesophilic-aerated static piles. For the breakdown of
TNT, half lives were 12 days under thermophilic conditions and 22 days under
mesophilic conditions. It was concluded that composting was a feasible
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