Water nitroaromatic-contaminated

Contamination by nitroaromatic compounds, especially TNT, stems primarily from military activities (Boopathy et al., 1994). During the manufacture of explosives and the disposal of old munitions, large quantities of water became contaminated. This wash water was typically disposed of in unlined lagoons that facilitated the slow release of the explosives from the soil in the lagoons into groundwater, lakes, and rivers. 

Current technologies for bioremediation of nitroaromatic-contaminated soils and waters... 

The NO + 03 chemiluminescent reaction [Reactions (1-3)] is utilized in two commercially available GC detectors, the TEA detector, manufactured by Thermal Electric Corporation (Saddle Brook, NJ), and two nitrogen-selective detectors, manufactured by Thermal Electric Corporation and Antek Instruments, respectively. The TEA detector provides a highly sensitive and selective means of analyzing samples for A-nitrosamines, many of which are known carcinogens. These compounds can be found in such diverse matrices as foods, cosmetics, tobacco products, and environmental samples of soil and water. The TEA detector can also be used to quantify nitroaromatics. This class of compounds includes many explosives and various reactive intermediates used in the chemical industry [121]. Several nitroaromatics are known carcinogens, and are found as environmental contaminants. They have been repeatedly identified in organic aerosol particles, formed from the reaction of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons with atmospheric nitric acid at the particle surface [122-124], The TEA detector is extremely selective, which aids analyses in complex matrices, but also severely limits the number of potential applications for the detector [125-127],... 

Until very recently, explosives-contaminated soils have been remediated by incineration, a process whose high cost has stimulated the search for a more economical cleanup method (Roberts et al., 1993). Microbially mediated degradation of explosives is a promising technology. Many researchers have studied microbial consortia and various pure cultures for their ability to degrade TNT and other nitroaromatic compounds (for a review see Crawford, 1995), bringing about the development of bioremediation processes that can remove TNT and other explosives from contaminated soil and water (Funk etal., 1995 Williams a/., 1992). 

Extensive research has contributed to the recent development of treatment processes for the bioremediation of soils and waters contaminated with nitro-substituted explosives. By elucidating the degradative pathways in both aerobic and anaerobic systems, we can determine the fate of the parent molecule and assess its effects on the environment. Further research into treating soil contaminated with various nitroaromatics is essential, since their incineration is not always a viable option, due to high cost and risk of pollution. 

GC-MS is used to detect both common and emerging explosive compounds. A review of GC-MS methods used to detect organic explosive compounds is available [129]. T vo common GC-MS sample introduction techniques are solid-phase microextraction (SPME) and headspace vapor collection [130-133], TTiese sample introduction methods are employed in the analysis of water and soil samples with suspected explosive residue contamination [134-137]. The U.S. EPA Method 8095, Explosives by Gas Chromatography, is recommended as a resource for sample preparation of soil and water samples analyzed for the common nitroaromatic, nitra-mine, and nitrate ester explosive compounds [138]. 

Schmidt, A.-C, et al. (2006) Identification and quantification of polar nitroaromatic compounds in explosive-contaminated waters by means of HPLC-ESI-MS-MS and HPLC-UV. Chromatographia, 63,1-11. 

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