METABOLISM OF EXPLOSIVE COMPOUNDS BY SULFATE-REDUCING BACTERIA

The metabolism of various explosive compounds-1,3,5-trinitrobenzene (T NB), hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine (RDX), and octahydro-1,3, 5,7-tetranitro-1,3,5,7-tetraazocine (HMX)-by a sulfate-reducing bacter ial consortium, Desulfovibrio spp., was studied. The results indicated that the Desulfovibrio spp. used all of the explosive compounds studi ed as their sole source of nitrogen for growth. The concentrations of TNB, RDX, and HMX in the culture media dropped to below the detection limit (<0.5 ppm) within 18 days of incubation. We also observed the pr oduction of ammonia from the nitro groups of the explosive compounds i n the culture media. This ammonia served as a nitrogen source for the bacterial growth, and the concentration of ammonia later dropped to <0 .5 mg/L. The sulfate-reducing bacteria may be useful in the anaerobic treatment of explosives-contaminated soil.