• Journal of Korean Society of Water and Wastewater
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• v.18 no.6
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• pp.731-741
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• 2004

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the potential of a gamma ray irradiation to decompose hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine (RDX) in an aqueous solution. The decomposition reaction of RDX by gamma ray irradiation was a first-order kinetic over the applied initial concentrations (10-40mg/L). The dose constant was strongly dependent on the initial concentration of the RDX. The removal of RDX 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 99% of the RDX (40mg/L) was 4, 8 and 1 kGy, at pH 2, 7 and 13, respectively. The dose constant was increased by two folds and over twelve folds at pH 2 and 13, respectively, when compared with that at pH 7. When an irradiation dose of 20 kGy was applied, the removal efficiencies of TOC were 80, 57 and 91% at pH 2, 7 and 13, respectively. Ammonia and nitrate were detected as the main nitrogen byproducts of RDX and formic acid was detected as an organic byproduct. The results showed that a gamma ray irradiation was an attractive method for the decomposition of RDX in an aqueous solution and it was found that a strong alkaline pH over 12 should be applied to the decomposition reaction of RDX.

• Advances in environmental research
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.1-14
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• 2012

We demonstrated that reductive degradation of 2,4,6-Trinitrotoluene (TNT) and hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine (Royal Demolition Explosive, RDX) can be enhanced by bio-reduced iron-bearing soil minerals (IBSMs) using Shewanella putrefaciens CN32 (CN32). The degradation kinetic rate constant of TNT by bio-reduced magnetite was the highest (0.0039 $h^{-1}$), followed by green rust (0.0022 $h^{-1}$), goethite (0.0017 $h^{-1}$), lepidocrocite (0.0016 $h^{-1}$), and hematite (0.0006 $h^{-1}$). The highest rate constant was obtained by bio-reduced lepidocrocite (0.1811 $h^{-1}$) during RDX degradation, followed by magnetite (0.1700 $h^{-1}$), green rust (0.0757 $h^{-1}$), hematite (0.0495 $h^{-1}$), and goethite (0.0394 $h^{-1}$). Significant increase of Fe(II) was observed during the reductive degradation of TNT and RDX by bio-reduced IBSMs. X-ray diffraction and electron microscope analyses were conducted for identification of degradation mechanism of TNT and RDX in this study. 4-amino-dinitrotoluene were detected as products during TNT degradation, while Hexahydro-1-nitroso-3,5-dinitro-1,3,5-triazine, Hexahydro-1,3-dinitroso-5-nitro-1,3,5triazine, and Hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitroso-1,3,5-triazine were observed during RDX degradation.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.22 no.10
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• pp.1311-1323
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• 2012

In the present work, current knowledge on the potential fate, microbial degradation, and toxicity of hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine (RDX) was thoroughly reviewed, focusing on the toxicological assessment of a variety of potential RDX degradation pathways in bacteria and fungi. The present review on microbial degradation pathways and toxicities of degradation intermediates suggests that, among aerobic RDX degradation pathways, the one via denitration may be preferred in a toxicological perspective, and that among anaerobic pathways, those forming 4-nitro-2,4-diazabutanal (NDAB) via ring cleavage of 1-nitroso-3,5-dinitro-1,3,5-triazinane (MNX) may be toxicologically advantageous owing to its potential mineralization under partial or complete anoxic conditions. These findings provide important information on RDX-degrading microbial pathways, toxicologically most suitable to be stimulated in contaminated fields.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.117-126
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• 2015

Reductive degradation of hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine (RDX) by nanoscale zero-valent iron (nZVI) was investigated to evaluate the feasibility of using it for in-situ groundwater remediation. Batch experiments were conducted to quantify the kinetics and efficiency of RDX removal by nZVI, and to determine the effects of pH, dissolved oxygen (DO), and ionic strength on this process. Experimental results showed that the reduction of RDX by nZVI followed pseudo-first order kinetics with the observed rate constant (k_obs) in the range of 0.0056-0.0192 min⁻¹. Column tests were conducted to quantify the removal of RDX by nZVI under real groundwater conditions and evaluate the potential efficacy of nZVI for this purpose in real conditions. In column experiment, RDX removal capacity of nZVI was determined to be 82,500 mg/kg nZVI. pH, oxidation-reduction potential (ORP), and DO concentration varied significantly during the column experiments; the occurrence of these changes suggests that monitoring these quantities may be useful in evaluation of the reactivity of nZVI, because the most critical mechanisms for RDX removal are based on the chemical reduction reactions. These results revealed that nZVI can significantly degrade RDX and that use of nZVI could be an effective method for in-situ remediation of RDX-contaminated groundwater.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.75-82
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• 2003

The cellular responses of RDX-degrading bacterium, Pseudomonas sp. HK-6 to explosive hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine (RDX) were examined. Strain HK-6 grown at different RDX concentrations was found to demonstrate the survival rate in proportional to the rate of the stress shock proteins produced in this bacterium. Analysis of total cellular fatty acid acids showed that lipids 10:0 iso and 14:1 $\omega$5c/$\omega$5t increased approx three times in strain HK-6 grown on RDX media than TSA media. SDS-PAGE and Western blot using anti-DnaK and GroEL revealed that several stress shock proteins including 70 kDa DnaK and 60 kDa CroEL were newly synthesized in strain HK-6 exposed to different RDX concentrations in exponentially growing cultures. 2-D PAGE of soluble protein fractions from the culture of HK-6 exposed to RDX demonstrated that approximately 300 spots were observed on the silver stained gel ranging from pH 3 to pH 10. As a result, 10 spots were significantly induced and expressed in response to RDX. Scanning electron microscopy fur the cells treated with 0.135 mM RDX for 12 hrs showed the presence of perforations and irregular rod shapes with wrinkled surfaces.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.129-134
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• 2008

Cyclic voltammetry (CV) and square wave stripping voltammetry (SW) analysis of hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine (RDX) using the double-stranded ds calf thymus (DNA) mixed in carbon nanotube paste electrode (PE) were provided. The optimum analytical conditions were determined and the peak potential was 0.2 V vs. Ag/AgCl. The linear working ranges of CV (50-75 ug/L) and SW (5-80 ng/L) were obtained. The precisions of RSD in the 10 ug/L was 0.086% (n=15) and the detection limit was 0.65 ng/L ($2.92{\times}10^{-12}M$) (S/N=3) with 300 s adsorption time at the optimum condition. The method was used to determine the presence of explosive chemicals in contaminated soil samples.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.839-847
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• 2020

In the present study, an anaerobic microbial consortium for the degradation of hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine (RDX) was selectively enriched with the co-addition of RDX and starch under nitrogen-deficient conditions. Microbial growth and anaerobic RDX biodegradation were effectively enhanced by the co-addition of RDX and starch, which resulted in increased RDX biotransformation to nitroso derivatives at a greater specific degradation rate than those for previously reported anaerobic RDX-degrading bacteria (isolates). The accumulation of the most toxic RDX degradation intermediate (MNX [hexahydro-1-nitroso-3,5-dinitro-1,3,5-triazine]) was significantly reduced by starch addition, suggesting improved RDX detoxification by the co-addition of RDX and starch. The subsequent MiSeq sequencing that targeted the bacterial 16S rRNA gene revealed that the Sporolactobacillus, Clostridium, and Paenibacillus populations were involved in the enhanced anaerobic RDX degradation. These results suggest that these three bacterial populations are important for anaerobic RDX degradation and detoxification. The findings from this work imply that the Sporolactobacillus, Clostridium, and Paenibacillus dominant microbial consortium may be valuable for the development of bioremediation resources for RDX-contaminated environments.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.85-94
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• 2015

RDX (hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine) is the most important explosive contaminant, both in concentration and in frequency, at military shooting ranges in which green technologies such as phytoremediation or constructed wetlands are the best option for mitigation of explosive compounds discharge to the environment. A study was conducted with two identical lab-scale plug flow constructed wetlands planted with Amur silver grass to treat water artificially contaminated with 40 mg/L of toxic explosive compound, RDX. The reactor was inoculated with or without RDX degrading mixed culture to evaluate plant-microorganism interactions in RDX removal, transformation products distribution, and kinetic constants. RDX and its metabolites in water, plant, and sediment were analyzed by HPLC to determine mass balance and kinetic constants. After 30 days of operation, the reactor reached steady-state at which more than 99% of RDX was removed with or without the mixed culture inoculation. The major transformation product was TNX (Trinitroso-RDX) that comprised approximately 50% in the mass balance of both reactors. It was also the major compound in the plant root and shoot system. Acute toxicity analysis of the water samples showed more than 30% of toxicity reduction in the effluent than that of influent containing 40 mg/L of RDX. In the Amur silver grass mesocosm seeded with the mixed culture, the specific RDX removal rate, that is 1st order removal rate normalized to plant fresh weight, was estimated to be 0.84 kg⁻¹ day⁻¹ which is 16.7% higher than that in the planted only mesocosm. Therefore, the results of this study proved that Amur silver grass is an effective plant for RDX removal in constructed wetlands and the efficiency can be increased even more when applied with RDX degrading microbial consortia.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.113-122
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• 2002

A bench-scale anoxic membrane bioreactor (MBR) system, consisting of a bioreactor coupled to a ceramic crossflow ultrafiltration module, was evaluated to treat a synthetic wastewater containing alkaline hydrolysis byproducts (hydrolysates) of RDX, The wastewater was formulated the same as RDX hydrolysates, and consisted of acetate, formate, formaldehyde as carbon sources and nitrite, nitrate as electron accepters. The MBR system removed 80 to 90% of these carbon sources, and approximately 90% of the stoichiometric amount of nitrate, 60% of nitrite. The reactor was also operated over a range of transmembrane pressures, temperatures, suspended solids concentration, and organic loading rate in order to maximize treatment efficiency and permeate flux. Increasing transmembrane pressure and temperature did not improve membrane flux significantly. Increasing biomass concentration in the bioreactor decreased the permeate flux significantly. The maximum volumetric organic loading rate was $0.72kg\;COD/m^3/day$, and the maximum F/M ratio was 0.50 kg N/kg MLSS/day and 1.82 kg COD/kg MLSS/day. Membrane permeate was clear and essentially free of bacteria, as indicated by heterotrophic plate count. Permeate flux ranged between 0.15 and $2.0m^3/m^2/day$ and was maintained by routine backwashing every 3 to 4 day. Backwashing with 2% NaOCl solution every fourth or fifth backwashing cycle was able to restore membrane flux to its original value.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.133-139
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• 2015

Attention to munitions constituents such as 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) and hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine (RDX) in the firing ranges is increasing due to their toxicity and high mobility to the environment. It is helpful to use a systemic model to predict the amount of contaminants for the establishment of environmental management of firing ranges. This study employed Training Range Environmental Evaluation and Characterization System (TREECS) program to estimate the mobility characteristics of TNT and RDX via groundwater leaching, soil erosion and surface water runoff. The prediction results of the TNT and RDX migration with TREECS showed that 68% of initial TNT and 21% of initial RDX were discharged through the soil erosion and the 20% of initial TNT and 54% of initial RDX ran out the firing range via the groundwater leaching. The rest of the initial TNT and RDX moved to adjacent surface water via surface runoff. The data suggest that soil erosion and surface runoff occupying 80% of TNT to the total amount are important migration pathways. On the other hand, groundwater leachning occupying 54% to the total amount was also important pathway for RDX.