BIOTRANSFORMATION PATTERNS OF 2,4,6-TRINITROTOLUENE BY AEROBIC-BACTERIA

2,4,6-Trinitrotoluene (TNT), a toxic nitroaromatic explosive, accumula tes in the environment, making necessary the remediation of contaminat ed areas and unused materials. Although bioremediation has been utiliz ed to detoxify TNT, the metabolic processes involved in the metabolism of TNT have proven to be complex. The three aerobic bacterial strains reported here (Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Bacillus sp., and Staphylococc us sp.) differ in their ability to biotransform TNT and in their growt h characteristics in the presence of TNT. In addition, enzymatic activ ities have been identified that differ in the reduction of nitro group s, cofactor preferences, and the ability to eliminate-NO2 from the rin g. The Bacillus sp. has the most diverse bioremediation potential owin g to its growth in the presence of TNT, high level of reductive abilit y, and capability of removing-NO2 from the nitroaromatic ring.