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Biodegradation of the nitramine explosive CL-20
Sandra Trott1, Shirley F Nishino, Jalal Hawari
1Air Force Research Laboratory-MLQL, Building 1117, 139 Barnes Drive, Tyndall Air Force Base, FL 32403, USA.
Applied and Environmental Microbiology
|March 7, 2003
Summary
The explosive CL-20 (2,4,6,8,10,12-hexanitro-2,4,6,8,10,12-hexaazaisowurtzitane) is biodegradable in soil. A specific bacterial strain, Agrobacterium sp. JS71, was identified as responsible for its degradation.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Microbiology
- Chemical Engineering
Background:
- CL-20 (2,4,6,8,10,12-hexanitro-2,4,6,8,10,12-hexaazaisowurtzitane) is a powerful cyclic nitramine explosive.
- Understanding the environmental fate and degradation pathways of novel energetic materials is crucial for risk assessment and remediation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the biodegradability of the explosive CL-20 in various soil environments.
- To identify microorganisms capable of degrading CL-20.
- To characterize the degradation process and the role of microbial communities.
Main Methods:
- Incubation of CL-20 in soil microcosms with diverse soil types.
- Monitoring the disappearance of CL-20 over time.
- Isolation of CL-20-degrading bacteria using enrichment cultures.
- Growth experiments to quantify microbial utilization of CL-20.
Main Results:
- CL-20 was significantly degraded in all tested soil microcosms, with no degradation observed in sterile controls.
- Garden soil exhibited the most rapid degradation, with approximately 80% CL-20 disappearance within 2 days.
- Agrobacterium sp. strain JS71 was isolated and confirmed to degrade CL-20, utilizing it as a nitrogen source.
Conclusions:
- CL-20 is susceptible to microbial degradation in soil environments.
- Specific bacterial strains, such as Agrobacterium sp. JS71, play a key role in CL-20 biodegradation.
- The findings support the potential for bioremediation strategies for CL-20 contaminated sites.