Bioremediation of TNT-contaminated soil: a laboratory study

This research presented a bench-scale investigation of an innovative approach to land farming for the bioremediation of 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT)-contaminated soils. Molasses, which contains sugar, nitrogen, vitamins, and minerals, was used as cosubstrate and this process combines several advantag...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Environmental toxicology and chemistry 1997-06, Vol.16 (6), p.1141-1148
Main Authors: Widrig, D.L. (Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, IL.), Boopathy, R, Manning, J.F. Jr
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
BIODECONTAMINACION
Biodegradation of pollutants
Biological and medical sciences
BIOREMEDIATION
Biotechnology
Environment and pollution
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Industrial applications and implications. Economical aspects
Land farming
MEDIO DE CULTIVO
MELASSE
MELAZA
MILIEU DE CULTURE
Molasses
Radiolabeling
SOL POLLUE
SUELO CONTAMINADO
TNT
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Summary:This research presented a bench-scale investigation of an innovative approach to land farming for the bioremediation of 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT)-contaminated soils. Molasses, which contains sugar, nitrogen, vitamins, and minerals, was used as cosubstrate and this process combines several advantages of conventional land farming with the use of molasses for the biological degradation of TNT and its derivatives. In the optimum treatment, contaminated soil was amended with shredded grass and managed in an operating cycle where it was alternatively flooded with a dilute molasses solution, then drained, passively aerated, and finally tilled when moisture conditions were optimum. Soil TNT concentrations in all treatments receiving molasses were reduced from approximately 4,000-mg/kg levels initially to less than 100 mg/kg in 12 months, and to less than 1 mg/kg in the optimum treatment in this same time. Concentrations of the primary metabolic intermediates and bacterial populations were also tracked. Radiolabeling studies confirmed that the biomass enhanced by the treatments could mineralize approximately 20% of [14C] from a contaminant spike after 22 d. A shredded grass amendment in the optimum treatment was shown to increase moisture retention during aeration phases. The results of this bench-scale study are promising with regard to transferring the process to full-scale applications
ISSN:0730-7268
1552-8618
DOI:10.1002/etc.5620160608