MICROBIAL-DEGRADATION OF EXPLOSIVES AND RELATED-COMPOUNDS

The pollution of soil and water with explosives and related compounds caused by military activities has been known for a long time, but prog ress in understanding the environmental fate of such substances has on ly been made in the last few years. Microbial processes could be used for the remediation of explosives-contaminated soils and waste waters because it has been shown that a variety of different microorganisms a n able to metabolize these chemical compounds. In some cases even a co mplete mineralization has been found, whereas in others only biotransf ormation reactions took place, producing more or less toxic and/or rec alcitrant metabolites. Studies with pure cultures of bacteria and fung i have given detailed insights into the biodegradation pathways of at least some nitroorganic compounds. Additionally, some of the key enzym es have been isolated and purified or studied in crude extracts. This review summarizes information on the biodegradation and biotransformat ion pathways of several important explosives. This may be useful in de veloping microbiological methods for a safe and economic clean-up of s oil and water contaminated with such compounds. It also shows the nece ssity of further investigations concerning the microbial metabolism of these substances.