Thermophilic Transformation of 2,4,6-Trinitrotoluene in Composting Systems.

摘要

The biotransformation of 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) was studied in lab scale composting systems. Under these thermophilic (55 C) conditions the same biochemical transformation scheme was found as that previously reported for mesophiles. TNT, C14-labelled, was used to trace these transformations. Thermophilic fungi, actinomycetes, and bacteria were isolated from both test (1.5% TNT) and control (no TNT) compost systems. Intermediates were detected by thin layer chromatography, high-performance liquid chromatography, infrared spectroscopy, and scintillation counting. An increasing percentage of the original C14-label became bound into humus-like components, becoming unextractable with solvents and undetectable by standard analytical methodologies. (Author)