• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.303-311
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• 2000

This study was conducted to find an optimal TNT transformation condition with the addition of different carbon and energy sources in a batch reactor. When TNT and nitrate were present in the medium, the cell growth and TNT transformation was slower because nitrate and TNT was competitively served as electron acceptor. Transformation of TNT was faster when TNT in the medium was nitrogen source and acetate as a carbon source. Cell growth and nitrate transformation was slower when yeast extract was not present in the medium. The proposed intermediates of TNT biotransformation from the earlier studies was not detected in this experiment but the intermediates are tentatively proposed as nitro and amino-free compounds. These results should be helpful for the operation of the munition waste treatment in the future.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.247-253
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• 2002

The cellular responses of TNT-degrading bacterium, Stenotrophomonas sp. OK-5 to explosive 2,4,6-trini-trotoluene (TNT) as an environmental contaminant were examined. Survival of the strain OK-5 with time in the presence of different concentrations of TNT under sublethal conditions was monitored, and viable counts paralleled the production of the stress shock proteins in this bacterium. Total cellular fatty acids analysis showed that strain OK-5 produced or disappeared several different kinds of lipids when grown on TNT media than when grown on TSA. Under scanning electron microscope, the cells treated with 0.5 mM TNT for 12 hrs showed irregular rod shapes with wrinkled surfaces. Analyses of SDS-PAGE and Western blot using anti-DnaK and anti-GroEL revealed that several stress shock proteins including 70 kDa DnaK and 60 kDa GroEL in strain OK-5 were newly synthesized at different TNT concentrations in exponentially growing cultures. 2-D PAGE of soluble protein fractions from the culture of OK-5 exposed to TNT demonstrated that approximately 300 spots were observed on the silver stained gel ranging from pH 3 to pH 10. Among them, 10 spots significantly induced and expressed in response to TNT were selected and analyzed. As the result of internal amino acid sequencing with ESI-Q TOF, two proteins, spot #1 and spot #10 were assigned the DnaK protein XF2340 of Xylella fastidiosa and stress-induced protein of Mesorhizobium loti, respectively.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Soil and Groundwater Environment Conference
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• 1999.04a
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• pp.62-63
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• 1999

Reduction 2,4,6-Trinitrotoluene by zero valent iron was studied in a batch reactor under anoxic conditions. Results showed that the removal of TNT was a pseudo-first order and the rate was dependent on the available metal surface area. Final product, presumably triaminotoluene, accumulated in the solution as well as on the metal surface. However, little amounts of aminodinitrotoluenes were detected. Therefore, it is postulated that the reduction of nitro group occurs simultaneously in all three position.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.67-73
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• 2002

The cellular responses of soil-borne bacterium, Pseudomonas sp. HK-6 to explosive 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) were examined. Two stress shock proteins (SSPs), approximately 70-kDa DnaK and a 60-kDa GroEL were found in HK-6 cells in response to TNT. Analyses of SDS-PAGE and Western blot using anti-DnaK and GroEL revealed that SSPs were induced in HK-6 cells exposed to 0.5 M of TNT far 6-12 hrs. The maximum induction of proteins was achieved at 8-hr incubation point after HK-6 cells'exposure to TNT. Similar SSPs were found to be induced in HK-6 cells by heat shock (shift of temperature, from $30^{\circ}C$ to $42^{\circ}C$) or cold shock (shift of temperature,$30^{\circ}C$ to $4^{\circ}C$).2D-PAGE of soluble protein tractions from the culture of Pseudomonas sp. HX-6 exposed to TNT demonstrated that approximately 450 spots were observed on the silver stained gels ranging from pH 3 to pH 10. Among them, 12 spots significantly induced and expressed in response to TNT were selected and analyzed. Approximately 60-kDa protein, which was assumed highly expressed on the gel, was used for amino acid sequencing. N-terminal microsequencing with in-gel digestion showed that N-terminal sequence of the TNT-induced protein, <$^1XXAKDVKFGDSARKKML^17$, shared extensive similarity with $^1XXAKDVKFGDSARKKML^17$, N-terminal sequence of (P48216) GroEL of Pseudomonas putida.

• Journal of Korean Society of Water and Wastewater
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.775-788
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• 2010

The decomposition of 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) and the mass balance of nitrogen (N) species as products were investigated in a UV/H2O2system by varying pH, concentrations of $H_2O_2$, and $O_2$. All experiments were conducted in a semi-batch system employing a 50 mL reaction vessel and a coil-type quartz-tube reactor. In contrast with previous studies employing batch mode, TNT decomposition in the semi-batch mode was proportionally enhanced by increasing $H_2O_2$ concentration to 10 mM (0.034%), indicatingthat an inhibitory effect of excess $H_2O_2$on hydroxyl radical (${\cdot}OH$) can be negligible. N compounds are released as $NO_2^-$ in the early stages of the reaction, but $NO_2^-$ is rapidly oxidized to $NO_3^-$ by means of ${\cdot}OH$. $NH_4^+$ was also detected in this study and showed gradually the increase with increasing reaction time. In this study, $NH_4^+$ production can involve the reduction of nitro group of TNT concurrent with the production of $NO_3^-$. Of the N species originating from TNT decomposition, 12 ~ 72% were inorganic forms (i.e. [$NO_3^-$] + [$NO_2^-$] + [$NH_4^+$]). This result suggests that the large remaining N portions indicate that unidentified N compounds can exist.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Soil and Groundwater Environment Conference
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• 2003.09a
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• pp.102-106
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• 2003

The uptake of $^{14}C$-2, 4, 6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) in hydroponics was studied using onion plants. Of the total TNT mass (5 $\mu\textrm{M}$ concentration), 75% was in the roots, 4.4% in the leaves, and 21% in the external solution at 2 days, The percent distribution in roots was lower with higher concentration in the external solution, but in leaves it was comparable at all concentrations (5-500 $\mu\textrm{M}$). Root concentration factor (RCF) in hydroponics was more than 85 in constant hydroponic experiment (CHE) at 5 $\mu\textrm{M}$ and 150 in non-constant hydroponic experiment (NHE) at 5 $\mu\textrm{M}$. The maximum RCF values in the hydroponic system were greater with lower solution concentration. Transpiration stream concentration factor (TSCF) values in the present study (NHE only: 0.31-0.56) were relatively similar to the values with predicted values (0.43-0.78), increasing with higher external TNT concentration. For phytotoxicity tested in hydroponics and wet paper method, 500 $\mu\textrm{M}$ was toxic to onion plant, 50 $\mu\textrm{M}$ was non-toxic for plant growth but limited the transpiration rate, and 5 $\mu\textrm{M}$ was non-toxic as control.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.695-698
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• 2002

The biodegradation of 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) was performed on a laboratory scale using P. putida originally isolated from explosive-contaminated soil. One hundred mg/1 of TNT was completely degraded within 20 h under optimum conditions. Various supplemental energy sources (carbon sources, nitrogen sources, and surfactant) were tested, with the main objective of identifying an inexpensive source and enhancing the degradation rate for large-scale biodegradation. Based on the degradation rate, molasses was selected as a possible supplemental carbon source, along with NH$_4$Cl and Tween 80 as a nitrogen source and surfactant, respectively. The degradation rate increased about 3.3 fo1d when supplemental energy sources were added and the degradation rate constant increased from 0.068 h$\^$-1/ to 0.224 h$\^$-1/. These results appear to be promising in application of the process to TNT-contaminated soil applications.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 2005

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the potential of a gamma irradiation to decompose 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene(TNT) in an aqueous solution. The decomposition reaction of TNT by gamma irradiation was a pseudo first-order kinetic over the applied initial concentrations($25{\sim}100mg/L$). The dose constant was strongly dependent on the initial TNT concentration. The removal of TNT was more efficient at pH below 3 and at pH above 11 than at neutral pH(pH 5-9). The required irradiation dose to remove over 99% of TNT was 40, 80 and 10 kGy, individually at pH 2, 7 and 13. The dose constant was increased by 1.6 fold and over 15.6 fold at pH 2 and 13, respectively, when compared with that at pH 7 When irradiation dose of 200 kGy was applied, the removal efficiencies of TOC were 91, 46 and 53% at pH 2, 7 and 13, respectively. Ammonia and nitrate were detected as the main nitrogen byproducts of TNT and glyoxalic acid and oxalic acid were detected as organic byproducts. The results showed that a gamma irradiation was an attractive method for the decomposition of TNT in an aqueous solution. However, regarding the application of high energy radiation for the TNT decomposition and mineralization, an application of an acidic pH below 3 to the solution before irradiation should be considered.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.3-11
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• 2001

To select a suitable indigenous plant for the phytoremediation of TNT contaminated soil, eight representative species of native grasses were tested to identify TNT toxicity thresholds. The threshold was determined based on various factors including cumulative seed germination, root and shoot length, fresh biomass, and the amount of water uptake under various TNT concentrations. Phytotoxic effect of TNT on plants was increased with the increase in TNT concentration but the degree was varied between grass species. Concentrations up to 60-80mgTNT/liter did not affect germination of Abutilion avicennae, Echinochioa crusgalli var. frumentacea, and Aeschynomene indica. Phytotoxicity threshold inhibition (50%) of Abutilion avicennae, schinochioa crusgalli var. frumentacea, Aeschynomene indica were 5-40mgTNT/liter for root length, 50-73mg TNT/Liter for shoot length and 68-99mgTNT/Liter for fresh biomass during 14 days of seedling exposure. Root and shoot growth as well as fresh biomass decreased as TNT concentration increased. In addition, the amount of water uptake decreased with increasing TNT concentration in Abutilion avicennae and Aeschynomene indica. Comparison of toxicity thresholds for the tested grass species showed that sensitivity of plants to TNT was in the order of root length > shoot length > fresh biomass > germination rate. From these results, we concluded that Abutilion avicennae and Aeschynomene indica had tolerance to TNT among the species tested.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Applied Microbiology Conference
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• 2001.06a
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• pp.114-115
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• 2001