REMEDIATION OF TNT USING PINE BARK IN A BATCH STUDY: COMETABOLIC REDUCTION AND SORPTION

• Water contaminated with 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) is regulated as a hazardous material. The objective of this study was to evaluate two bioremediation methods, namely, sorption and anoxic degradation for the removal of TNT from contaminated water in 7-day long batch experiment. TNT was co-metabolized with glucose under oxygen-limiting conditions using a mixed inoculum culture from a wastewater treatment plant, enriched with glucose and TNT. By the third day of the experiment most of TNT was adsorbed onto the pine bark and 96-98% of TNT was degraded. The results also indicated that the concentration of glucose is an important factor for the effective degradation of TNT, which is consistent with earlier research; the content of 0.15% w/v resulted in a more rapid TNT removal in comparison with 0.50% w/v. Two metabolites; 2-amino-4,6-dinitrotoluene (2-ADNT) and 4-amino-2,6-dinitrotoluene (4-ADNT) were detected. The para nitro group of TNT was preferentially reduced compared to the ortho nitro group. On the seventh day of incubation the concentration of 4-ADNT had decreased by 10% and 2-ADNT was no longer detectable. 

Keyword

Energy- and Environmental Engineering

energi- och miljöteknik

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

kon (subject category)