Recovery of nitrotoluenes in wastewater by solvent extraction

Critical Role of Monooxygenase in Biodegradation of 2,4,6-Trinitrotoluene by Buttiauxella sp. S19-1

2,4,6-Trinitrotoluene (TNT) is an aromatic pollutant that is difficult to be degraded in the natural environment. The screening of efficient degrading bacteria for bioremediation of TNT has received much attention from scholars. In this paper, transcriptome analysis of the efficient degrading bacterium Buttiauxella sp. S19-1 revealed that the monooxygenase gene (BuMO) was significantly up-regulated during TNT degradation. S-ΔMO (absence of BuMO gene in S19-1 mutant) degraded TNT 1.66-fold less efficiently than strain S19-1 (from 71.2% to 42.9%), and E-MO mutant (Escherichia coli BuMO-expressing strain) increased the efficiency of TNT degradation 1.33-fold (from 52.1% to 69.5%) for 9 h at 180 rpm at 27 °C in LB medium with 1.4 µg·mL^-1 TNT. We predicted the structure of BuMO and purified recombinant BuMO (rBuMO). Its specific activity was 1.81 µmol·min^-1·mg^-1 protein at pH 7.5 and 35 °C. The results of gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis indicated that 4-amino-2,6-dinitrotoluene (ADNT) is a metabolite of TNT biodegradation. We speculate that MO is involved in catalysis in the bacterial degradation pathway of TNT in TNT-polluted environment.

Solvent-assisted cavitation for enhanced removal of organic pollutants - Degradation of 4-aminophenol

A new approach of solvent-assisted cavitation process was proposed for degradation of organic pollutants. The process envisages the use of suitable solvent as an additive, (1-5% v/V), in the conventional cavitation process to enhance the pollutant removal efficiency. A proof of concept was provided for the removal of ammoniacal nitrogen with significantly improved efficiency using solvent-assisted hydrodynamic cavitation (HC) compared to conventional HC. The efficacy of the process was studied on a pilot plant scale (1 m3/h) and using vortex flow based vortex diode as a cavitating device. Degradation studies were carried out using a model pollutant, 4-aminophenol and four different solvents as additives, 1-octanol, cyclohexanol, 1-octane and toluene. Relatively polar solvents were found to increase the efficiency of the pollutant removal (>65%) and also increase the rates to an extent of more than 200%, compared to only HC. A very high removal of ammoniacal nitrogen, more than 90%, was obtained for solvents 1-octanol and cyclohexanol, indicating the importance of the selection of solvent. Per-pass degradation model showed 3 to 4 times increase in the per pass degradation for polar solvents compared to cavitation alone. The results confirm no role of conventional solvent extraction and no specific contamination of wastewater due to the use of solvent as an additive in the process. Further, the cost was 2-3 times lower as compared to the conventional HC. The interesting observations in the proposed process can fuel further research to provide possible improvements in existing methodologies of wastewater treatment, in general, and for removal of ammoniacal nitrogen, in particular.

Ionic liquid-based water treatment technologies for organic pollutants: Current status and future prospects of ionic liquid mediated technologies

Water scarcity motivated the scientific researcher to develop efficient technologies for the wastewater treatment for its reuse. Ionic liquids have been applied to many industrial and analytical separation processes, but their applications in the wastewater treatment, especially in the removal of organic pollutants, are still not well explored. Potential applications of ionic liquids include solvent extraction, solvent membrane technologies and ionic liquid-modified materials that are mainly used as adsorbents. Aforementioned technologies have been examined for the abatement of phenol, chloro- and nitrophenols, toluene, bisphenol A, phthalates, pesticides, dyes, and pharmaceuticals etc. Present review enlightens the application of different ionic liquids in wastewater treatment and suggests the versatility of ionic liquids in the development of rapid, effective and selective removal processes for the variety of organic pollutants. Implementation of ionic liquid based technologies for wastewater treatment have lots of challenges including the selection of non-hazardous ionic liquids, technological applications, high testing requirements for individual uses and scaling-up of the entire pollutant removal, disposal, and ionic liquid regeneration process. Toxicity assessment of water soluble ionic liquids (ILs) is the major issue due to the widespread application of ILs and hence more exposure of environment by ILs. The development of effective technologies for the recovery/treatment of wastewater contaminated with ILs is necessary from the environmental point of view. Furthermore, the cost factor is the major challenge associated with ionic liquid-based technologies.

Environmental persistence, hazard, and mitigation challenges of nitroaromatic compounds

Nitroaromatic compounds (NACs) are extensively used in different industries and are synthesized in large quantity due to their heavy demand worldwide. The broad use of NACs poses a serious pollution threat. The treatment processes used for the removal of NACs are not effective and sustainable, leading to their release into the environment. The nitro group attached to benzene ring makes the compounds recalcitrant due to which they persist in the environment. Being hazardous to human as well as other living organisms, NACs are listed in the USEPA's priority pollutant group. This review provides updated information on the sources of NACs, prevalence in different environmental matrices, and recent developments in methods of their detection, with emphasis on current trends as well as future prospects. The harmful effects of NACs due to exposure through different routes are also highlighted. Further, the technologies reported for the treatment of NACs, including physico-chemical and biological methods, and the challenges faced for their effective implementation are discussed. Thus, the review discusses relevant issues in detail making suitable recommendations, which can be helpful in guiding further research in this subject.

Mineralization of ammunition wastewater by a micron-size Fe0/O3 process (mFe0/O3)

A micron-size Fe⁰/O₃ process (mFe⁰/O₃) was set up to mineralize the pollutants in ammunition wastewater, and its key operational parameters (e.g., initial pH, ozone flow rate, and mFe⁰ dosage) were optimized by the batch experiments, respectively.

Characterization and photocatalytic treatability of red water from Brazilian TNT industry

The current study aims to characterize and evaluate the photocatalytic treatability of the "red water" effluent from a Brazilian TNT production industry. Analyses were performed using physical, chemical, spectroscopic and chromatographic assays, which demonstrated that the effluent presented a significant pollution potential, mainly due to COD, BOD, solids and to the high concentration of nitroaromatic compounds such as 1,3,5-trinitrobenzene, 1-methyl-2,4-dinitrobenzene, 2-methyl-1,3-dinitrobenzene, 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene-3,5-dinitro-p-toluidine and 2-methyl-3,5-dinitro-benzoamine. By a modified sol-gel and a dip-coating technique, it was possible to obtain a TiO2 film on borosilicate glass substrate which functional composition and microstructure were characterized by infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The evaluation of the photocatalytic treatability using borosilicate-glass-TiO2 demonstrated high degradation efficiency. In this context, a reduction of 32 and 100% for COD and nitroaromatic compounds, respectively, was observed. Although the proposed photocatalytic process has found difficulties in reducing the content of organic matter and effluent color in the red water, its potential for degrading refractory chemical compounds such as the nitroaromatic ones enables it to be used as tertiary treatment.

Removal of dinitrotoluenes in wastewater by sono-activated persulfate

Oxidative degradation of dinitrotoluenes (DNTs) in wastewater was performed using persulfate anions combined with ultrasonic irradiation, wherein a synergistic effect is observed. The batch-wise experiments were carried out to elucidate the influence of various operating parameters on sono-activated persulfate oxidation, including ultrasonic power intensity, persulfate anion concentration, reaction temperature and acidity of wastewater. It is noteworthy that the nitrotoluene contaminants could be almost completely eliminated by virtue of sono-activated persulfate oxidation, wherein sulfate radicals serve as principal oxidants, of which amounts are significantly enhanced via addition of sodium sulfate. Based on the results given by gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer (GC-MS), it is postulated that the methyl group of DNTs preliminarily underwent oxidation pathway into dinitrobenzoic acid, followed by decarboxylation to form 1,3-dinitrobenzene (DNB). In sum, the sono-activated persulfate oxidation is a promising method for treatment of nitrotoluenes in wastewater.

Effects of 2,4-dinitrotoluene exposure on enzyme activity, energy reserves and condition factors in common carp (Cyprinus carpio)

In this study relative condition factor (RCF) and hepatosomatic index (HSI) as well as the available energy reserves of common carp (Cyprinus carpio) by 2,4-DNT semi-static bioassay were determined and linked to effects of enzymes in liver tissues. Fish were exposed at sublethal concentrations of 2,4-DNT (0.13 μg/L, 0.1, 0.5, 1.0mg/L) for 7 and 15 d. Based on the results, there was no significant change in all parameters measured in fish exposed to 2,4-DNT at environmental related concentration, but 2,4-DNT stress in fish exposed to higher concentrations reflected the significant changes of physiological and biochemical responses. 2,4-DNT stress resulted in EROD activity induction in the liver, and the levels of EROD activity ranged from 0.39- to 1.83-fold higher than control. For GK, Na(+)/K(+)-ATPase, and GST, these enzyme activity continued to decline after exposure to 0.1, 0.5 and 1.0mg/L 2,4-DNT, whereas the trend on GK and Na(+)/K(+)-ATPase was more obvious than GST. Through principal component analysis, effects by 2,4-DNT-stress in each test group were distinguished. Additionally, indications of a trade-off between metabolic cost of toxicant exposure and processes vital to the survival of the organism were seen at the enzyme activity level as well as on higher levels of biological organization.

Removal of dinitrotoluenes and trinitrotoluene from industrial wastewater by ultrasound enhanced with titanium dioxide

Oxidative degradation of dinitrotoluenes (DNTs) and 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) in wastewater was conducted using ultrasonic irradiation combined with titanium dioxide (TiO(2)). The batch-wise experiments were carried out to elucidate the influence of various operating parameters on the sonolytic behavior, including power intensity, TiO(2) dosage, acidity of wastewater, reaction temperature and oxygen dosage. It is worthy to note that the nitrotoluene contaminants could be almost completely eliminated by sonochemical oxidation enhanced significantly with the addition of TiO(2) due to the supply of adsorbent and/or excess nuclei. High destruction rate of nitrotoluenes could be achieved by increasing the acidity of wastewater and decreasing the reaction temperature. According to the result given by pyrolysis/gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer (Pyrolysis/GC-MS), it is postulated that DNTs adsorbed on TiO(2) preliminarily undergo denitration pathway to o-mononitrotoluene (MNT) or oxidation pathway to 1,3-dinitrobenzene (DNB), respectively. Further, based on the spectra obtained from GC-MS, it is proposed that DNTs dissolved in wastewater proceed with similar reaction pathways as those adsorbed on TiO(2). Besides, oxidative degradation of 2,4,6-TNT results in the formation of 1,3,5-trinitrobenzene (TNB). Apparently, the sonolytic technique established is promising for direct treatment of wastewater from TNT manufacturing process.

Acute toxicity evaluation of explosive wastewater by bacterial bioluminescence assays using a freshwater luminescent bacterium, Vibrio qinghaiensis sp. Nov

The compositions of explosive wastewater generated from TNT (2,4,6-trinitrotoluene) purification stage were characterized by using UV-vis spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), high performance liquid chromatograph (HPLC) and gas chromatograph/mass spectroscopy (GC/MS). The acute toxicity was evaluated by bacterium bioluminescence assay using a freshwater luminescent bacterium (Vibrio qinghaiensis sp. Nov.) and a marine luminescent bacterium (Photobacterium phosphoreum). The results showed that the wastewater's biodegradability was poor due to the high amount of chemical oxygen demand (COD). The main organic components were dinitrotoluene sulfonates (DNTS) with small amount of TNT, dinitrotoluene (DNT), mononitrotoluene (MNT) and other derivatives of nitrobenzene. It was highly toxic to luminescent bacteria P. phosphoreum and V. qinghaiensis sp. Nov. After reaction time of 15 min, the relative concentration of toxic pollutants (expressed as reciprocal of dilution ratio of wastewater) at 50% of luminescence inhibition ratio was 5.32×10(-4) for P. phosphoreu, while that was 4.34×10(-4) for V. qinghaiensis. V. qinghaiensis is more sensitive and suitable for evaluating the wastewater's acute toxicity than P. phosphoreum. After adsorption by resin, the acute toxicity can be greatly reduced, which is helpful for further treatment by biological methods.

Greenhouse gases accounting and reporting for waste management--a South African perspective

This paper investigates how greenhouse gases are accounted and reported in the waste sector in South Africa. Developing countries (including South Africa) do not have binding emission reduction targets, but many of them publish different greenhouse gas emissions data which have been accounted and reported in different ways. Results show that for South Africa, inventories at national and municipal level are the most important tools in the process of accounting and reporting greenhouse gases from waste. For the development of these inventories international initiatives were important catalysts at national and municipal levels, and assisted in developing local expertise, resulting in increased output quality. However, discrepancies in the methodology used to account greenhouse gases from waste between inventories still remain a concern. This is a challenging issue for developing countries, especially African ones, since higher accuracy methods are more data intensive. Analysis of the South African inventories shows that results from the recent inventories can not be compared with older ones due to the use of different accounting methodologies. More recently the use of Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) procedures in Africa, geared towards direct measurements of greenhouse gases from landfill sites, has increased and resulted in an improvement of the quality of greenhouse gas inventories at municipal level.

Sonochemical decomposition of dinitrotoluenes and trinitrotoluene in wastewater

Mineralization of dinitrotoluenes (DNT) and 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) in wastewater was conducted under ultrasonic irradiation. The batch-wise experiments were carried out to elucidate the influence of various operating parameters on the sonolytic behavior, including power intensity, acidity of wastewater, reaction temperature and oxygen dosage. It is remarkable that the nitrotoluenes contained could be almost completely decomposed by the sonochemical oxidation method, wherein the pyrolytic reaction was responsible for the destruction of organic compounds. During the sonication tests, the influence of reaction temperature on the degradation of nitrotoluenes is the most significant, followed by power intensity, acidity of wastewater and oxygen dosage. Based on the spectra obtained from gas chromatograph/mass spectrometer (GC/MS), it is suggested that 2,4,6-TNT is preliminarily denitrated to 2,6-DNT. The denitration of 2,6-DNT and/or 2,4-DNT results in the formation of o-mononitrotoluene, which proceeds with the cleavage of nitro group into toluene, followed by oxidation of methyl group and decarboxylation. In this study, it is believed that the sonolytic technique established is promising for wastewater disposal in toluene nitration processes.

Destruction of nitrotoluenes in wastewater by Electro-Fenton oxidation

Electrolytic degradation of dinitrotoluenes (DNTs) and 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) in wastewater was conducted by Electro-Fenton's reagents. The batch-wise experiments were carried out to elucidate the influence of various operating variables on the electrolytic behavior, including electrode potential, oxygen dosage, electrolytic temperature, acidity of wastewater and dosage of ferrous ions. It deserves to note that the nitrotoluenes contained could be completely decomposed by Electro-Fenton's reagents, wherein hydrogen peroxide was in situ generated from cathodic reduction of oxygen, supplied mainly by anodic oxidation of water. During the electrochemical process, the influence of electrolytic temperature on the degradation of nitrotoluenes is the most significant, followed by electrode potential, acidity of wastewater and oxygen dosage. Based on the spectra analyzed by gas chromatograph/mass spectrometer (GC/MS), it is proposed that initial denitration of 2,4-DNT and/or 2,6-DNT gives rise to formation of o-mononitrotoluene, which undergoes the cleavage of nitro group into toluene, followed by oxidation of methyl group to benzoic acid and subsequent decarboxylation. It is believed that the electrolytic method established is potentially applied to dispose wastewater from toluene nitration processes in practice.

Optimization of Brazilian TNT industry wastewater treatment using combined zero-valent iron and fenton processes

This work explores the optimization of combined zero-valent iron and fenton processes for the treatment of TNT industry wastewater, a residue with recognized polluting potential due to its high concentration of 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene and extremely acidic pH due of the nature of the product purification process. The results of the optimization study indicate that the most efficient condition for reducing the concentration of TNT also generates sufficient amounts of iron(II)for the subsequent oxidative treatment through the Fenton reaction. In general, it was observed that the treatment was highly efficient in terms of meeting the main associated environmental parameters, since it reduced acute toxicity, removed 100% of TNT, 100% of the organic nitrogen and 95.4% of the COD.

Characterization of wastewater from the Brazilian TNT industry

The objective of this work was to characterize the effluent originating from a Brazilian TNT production industry. Analyses were performed using physical, chemical, spectroscopic and ecotoxicological assays, which demonstrated that the effluent had a significant pollution potential, mainly due to the low pH and high concentration of TNT (156+/-10mgL(-1)). The results also demonstrated that the effluent presented significant acute toxicity, and could cause countless damages if released into the receiving body without being adequately treated first. The observed pollution potential justifies studies to evaluate treatment technologies or recover the residue generated in the TNT industry.