agar and 2-4-dinitrotoluene

Three methods, i.e. bioremediation by application of bacteria-laden agar, physical absorption of DNT by agar, or illumination by UV light were evaluated for the removal of 2,4-dinitrotoluene (DNT) from building-grade concrete. DNT biodegradation by Pseudomonas putida TOD was turned "on" and "off" by using toluene as a co-substrate thus allowing for rate-limiting step assessment. Bioremediation efficiency can be > 95-97% in 5-7 d if the process occurs at optimum growth temperature with the biological processes appearing to be rate-limiting. Sterile agar can remove up to 80% of DNT from concrete thus allowing DNT desorption and biodegradation to be conducted separately. Photoremediation results in 50% DNT removal in 9-12 d with no further removal, most likely due to mass transfer limitations.

Topics: Adsorption; Agar; Biodegradation, Environmental; Catalysis; Construction Materials; Dinitrobenzenes; Environmental Pollution; Photochemistry; Pseudomonas putida; Soil Pollutants; Ultraviolet Rays