Biodegradation of 1,3,5-Trinitro-1,3,5-triazine (RDX)

Abstract

Two bacteria were isolated from 1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine (RDX) contaminated soil at Picatinny Arsenal, New Jersey. These organisms were subsequently identified as Rhizobium rhizogenes BL and Burkholderia sp.BL by the Deutsche Sammlung von Mikroorganismen und Zellkulturen GmbH (DSMZ, German Collection of Microorganisms and Cell Cultures). In addition a fungus, identified as Cladosporium cladosporioides by DSMZ, was found to be growing on water wet RDX. All of these organisms were found to degrade RDX. The two bacteria were found to represent new species that have not been reported before. It was found that these organisms along with an added carbon source could degrade RDX to simple gaseous products. Data are presented that elucidate the mechanisms of RDX biodegradation for these organisms.

Keywords:

• Biodegradation
• 1,3,5-Trinitro-1,3,5-triazine
• RDX
• Bioremediation

Acknowledgment

We thank Dr. Rose Pesce-Rodriguez of the Army Research Laboratory at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland for providing the GC-MS and FT-IR analysis and insightful discussion.