WET OXIDATION OF TNT RED WATER AND BACTERIAL TOXICITY OF TREATED WASTE

This laboratory study determined the composition of the off-gas after wet oxidation (WO) of trinitrotoluene (TNT) red water, and monitored bacterial toxicity of treated waste. The amount of sulfate concentration in the treated sample is much higher than the sum of the measured inorganic sulfate and the organic sulfur associated with the dinitrotoluene sulfonates initially present in the raw red water. This indicates the presence of other unidentified S-containing organic compounds in red water. The nitrogen analyses indicate a significant NH4+ concentration (32 mg N/1) in treated waste and a high N-2 concentration (14.6%; net increase of 4.6%) in the off-gas. The toxicity results indicate that the WO-treated red water exerts toxic effects on Acinetobacter and Nitrosomonas growth, but has less impact on activated sludge. Furthermore, treated samples at 340 degrees C appear to exhibit a more inhibitory effect on both Acinetobacter and Nitrosomonas than those treated at 260 degrees C.