MICROBIAL-DEGRADATION OF NITROAROMATIC COMPOUNDS

This chapter presents an overview of microbial degradation of nitroaromatic compounds. Nitroaromatics are produced on a massive scale in the manufacture of dyes, plastics, and explosives. Their discharge in wastewater and application as pesticides have broadened their environmental impact and called for solutions for remediation of these toxic compounds. The use of microorganisms to transform or eliminate nitroaromatics has been proposed in effluent treatment and land reclamation. While microbial strains utilizing nitrobenzoates or nitrophenols were isolated from contaminated sources several decades ago, microbial action on 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) was largely limited to nitro group reduction and formation of azoxy derivatives which may complex with humus. However, recent work has identified organisms capable of using TNT as the sole carbon and nitrogen source. Finally, the versatile white rot fungus also merits further attention in nitroaromatic degradation. © 1992, Academic Press Inc.