Bioremediation of Dinitrotoluene in Aged Clay and Sandy Soils Using Pseudomonas Organisms,Spizizen Nutrient Medium and Prairie Silt Loam

This article describes the utility of Spizizen medium in effecting the release of 2,4 dinitrotoluene (DNT) from plasticized propellant in aged clay soil and of added Pseudomonas organisms in enhancing the rate of degradation of DNT in clay and sandy soils. DNT is an environmental problem because of its toxicity to mammals. It is proposed that the citrate in Spizizen medium chelates metals that form the aggregates of humin in aged clay soils, thereby releasing propellant components. Lack of awareness of DNT mobilization by citrate or other polyanions may lead to a potential underestimation of the 2,4 DNT present in aged contaminated soil and a potential increased release of DNT following exposure to solvents containing citrate or other polyanions. DNT in contaminated sandy soils was rapidly degraded when Pseudomonas and Spizizen medium were added (85% degraded in 20 days). Pseudomonas isolated/Torn soils at the Badger Plant have particular utility for the in situ degradation of 2,4 DNT in clay and sandy soils because they metabolize Spizizen medium, thrive in diverse climates, and have been selected for their ability to grow in soils contaminated with DNT. Mixture of either the contaminated clay soil or the contaminated sandy soil with uncontaminated prairie silt loam (20:80 ratio) facilitated management of the treatment process. This observation is important because of the widespread distribution, and hence low cost, of this soil type in the central United States.