Transformation of 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene by the aquatic plant Myriophyllum spicatum

The ability of the aquatic plant Eurasian Watermilfoil (Myriophyllum spicatum) to transform 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) was investigated in a series of batch assays. The TNT was added to plant cultures in single and multiple consecutive additions, at various initial concentrations, to determine its...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Environmental toxicology and chemistry 1998-11, Vol.17 (11), p.2266-2266
Main Authors: Pavlostathis, S.G. (Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA.), Comstock, K.K, Jacobson, M.E, Saunders, F.M
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
AQUATIC PLANTS
BIODECONTAMINACION
BIOREMEDIATION
CONTAMINANTES
CONTAMINANTS
FITOTOXICIDAD
MYRIOPHYLLUM
PHYTOTOXICITE
PHYTOTOXICITY
PLANTAS ACUATICAS
PLANTE AQUATIQUE
POLLUANT
POLLUTANTS
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:The ability of the aquatic plant Eurasian Watermilfoil (Myriophyllum spicatum) to transform 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) was investigated in a series of batch assays. The TNT was added to plant cultures in single and multiple consecutive additions, at various initial concentrations, to determine its transformation kinetics, identify products formed, evaluate phytotoxic effects, and to determine the effect of light deprivation on the TNT transformation process. Rapid disappearance of TNT from the plant culture media was observed. The TNT disappearance rate was a function of both plant and TNT concentration (i.e., followed mixed, second-order kinetics). The TNT transformation occurred only in the presence of plants and was inhibited by the addition of sodium aside. Phytotoxicity leading to plant chlorosis was observed in batch plant cultures with an initial TNT concentration above 5.9 micromolar. Reductive transformation of TNT to aminodinitrotoluenes and lower levels of hydroxylaminodinitrotoluene and diaminonitrotoluenes detected in the plant culture media accounted for less than 10 to 20% of the total TNT mass added. Extraction of plant material at the end of batch incubations when all TNT was depleted from the media yielded low levels of TNT and aminodinitrotoluenes and accounted for only 3.4% of the initially added TNT mass. Light deprivation decreased both the rate and extent of the reductive transformation of TNT
ISSN:0730-7268
1552-8618
DOI:10.1002/etc.5620171117