Bacteria transform TNT

"Manufacture of nitroorganic explosives generates toxic wastes, leading to contamination of soils and waters, especially groundwater. For that reason bacteria living in environments highly contaminated with 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) and other nitroorganic compounds were investigated for their capacity for TNT degradation. One isolate, Raoultella terrigena strain HB, removed TNT ...

"HPLC analysis identified aminodinitrotoluenes (2-ADNT, 4-ADNT) and diaminonitrotoluenes (2,4-DANT) as the metabolites which remained soluble in the culture medium and azoxy-dimers as the main products in the cell extracts. Hence, the new isolate could be useful for the removal of TNT from contaminated waters."

http://www.springerlink.com/content/a40820qr43505221/

Transformation of 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) by Raoultella terrigena - H. Claus et al
Institute of Microbiology and Wine Research, Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, J. J. Becherweg 15, D-55099, Mainz
mailto:hclaus@uni-mainz.de

Biodegradation
Springer Netherlands
ISSN
0923-9820 (Print) 1572-9729 (Online)
Volume 18, Number 1 / February, 2007
DOI
10.1007/s10532-005-9033-7
Pages
27-35
SpringerLink Date
Wednesday, June 07, 2006