Trinitrotoluene(TNT) Biotransformation Pathways Under Aerobic and
Anaerobic Condition

Lee, Taejin

Environmental Engineering Research 1996;1(2): 81-87.

Trinitrotoluene(TNT) Biotransformation Pathways Under Aerobic and Anaerobic Condition

Taejin Lee^†

Water Protection Research Team Research Institute of Industrial Science & Technology(RIST)

Corresponding Author: Taejin Lee ,

Received: May 13, 1996; Accepted: September 13, 1996.

ABSTRACT

The biotransformation pathways of 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene(TNT) under aerobic and anaerobic condition are summerized. Microorganisms reduced nitro compounds of TNT to amino compounds under both condition. Para-position nitrogroup was reduced first, followed by ortho-position nitro group. The mineralization of TNT was detected under aerobic condition, while hydroxylamino intermediates are polymerized by nonenzymetic coupling processes. No ring cleavage was found under anaerobic condition. It is a promising result that biotransformation products of explosives are nitrogen free compounds such as toluene or p-cresol under anaerobic condition.