Biodegradation of TNT (2,4,6-trinitrotoluene) by Phanerochaete chrysosporium

• DOI: 10.1128/aem.56.6.1666-1671.1990
• Publication Date: 2020-01-01T04:25:04Z
• Authors: T Fernando; J A Bumpus; S D Aust
• Keywords: Phanerochaete; Chrysosporium; Trinitrotoluene; Pentachlorophenol; Corncob

Extensive biodegradation of TNT (2,4,6-trinitrotoluene) by the white rot fungus Phanerochaete chrysosporium was observed. At an initial concentration 1.3 mg/liter, 35.4 +/- 3.6% [14C]TNT degraded to 14CO2 in 18 days. The addition glucose 12 days after did not stimulate mineralization, and, incubation with only, about 3.3% could be recovered. Mineralization adsorbed on soil also examined. Ground corncobs served as nutrient for slow but sustained degradation such that 6.3 0.6% initially present converted during 30-day period. Mass balance analysis liquid cultures and soil-corncob revealed polar metabolites are formed both systems, high-performance chromatography analyses less than 5% radioactivity remained undegraded following or cultures. When (both soil) adjusted contamination levels might found environment, i.e., 10,000 mg/kg 100 mg/liter water, mineralization studies showed 18.4 2.9% 19.6 3.5% 90 cultures, respectively. In cases (90 water at mg/kg) approximately 85% degraded. These results suggest this may useful decontamination sites environment contaminated TNT.