ABIOTIC TRANSFORMATION OF TNT IN MONTMORILLONITE AND SOIL SUSPENSIONSUNDER REDUCING CONDITIONS

Abiotic reduction of nitrobenzenes by Fe+2 adsorbed to various surface s has been demonstrated by others. The objective of this study was to describe abiotic TNT transformation as a function of pH and confirm th e possibility of an abiotic Fe+2 reduction pathway in reduced soils. E ffects of pH on abiotic transformations of TNT were examined in buffer ed batch tests with montmorillonite and Fe+2. Results indicated that T NT was rapidly reduced under abiotic conditions, with the rate of redu ction highest at pH 8. Mass balance experiments indicated that unextra ctable or unknown transformation products were produced. Suppression o f the abiotic Fe+2 reduction mechanism in anaerobic soil by complexing Fe+2 with EDTA demonstrated the presence of the pathway in a soil. Pu blished by Elsevier Science Ltd.