Identification of oxidized TNT metabolites in soil samples of a former ammunition plant

Bruns-Nagel, Dirk; Schmidt, Torsten C.; Drzyzga, Oliver; Löw, Eberhard v; Steinbach, Klaus

Identification of oxidized TNT metabolites in soil samples of a former ammunition plant

1999

Bruns-Nagel, Dirk | Schmidt, Torsten C. | Drzyzga, Oliver | Löw, Eberhard v | Steinbach, Klaus

Water extracts of soil samples of the former ammunition plant “Tanne” near Clausthal-Zellerfeld, Lower Saxony, Germany, were investigated for highly polar oxidized 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) metabolites. 0.4 to 9.0 mg/kg dry soil 2,4,6-trinitrobenzoic acid (TNBA) and 5.8 to 544 mg/kg dry soil 2-amino-4,6-dinitrobenzoic acid (2-ADNBA) were found. In addition to the oxidized metabolites, TNT, 4- and 2-aminodinitrotoluene (4- and 2-ADNT), and 2,4-dinitrotoluene (2,4-DNT) were extractable with water. Most interestingly, in one sample, 2-ADNBA represented the main contaminant.The origin of the oxidized nitroaromatics is unknown at this time. They might be generated chemically or photochemically. Furthermore, a biological synthesis seems possible.

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