1995•OSTI OAI (U.S. Department of Energy Office of Scientific and Technical Information)Requires access
Investigation of the biotransformation of TNT by a Rhodococcus sp.
John Tharakan, Gwendolyn L. Welsh, Jenny Johnson
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Abstract
Tri-nitro-toluene (TNT) has contaminated waterways and soils as a result of its widespread military and non-military uses. Several researches have isolated or constructed strains of microorganisms that are able to utilize TNT as sole carbon, nitrogen or energy sources. Researchers have also reported high TNT concentrations (> 50 mg/l) as inhibitory to bacteria, yeast and fungi. This study examines the degradation of TNT and pyrene using a Rhodococcus sp. isolated based on its ability to survive on pyrene as the sole carbon source. The experiments were designed to study both the direct and cometabolic transformation of TNT by the microbes in both batch and continuous modes, and to determine the optimum conditions under which TNT would be degradable.