Enhanced degradation of dinitrotoluene by Phanerochaete chrysosporium in packed-bed bioreactor

Due to recent demilitarization activities in United States, Eastern Europe, and former Soviet Union, a large quantity of propellants, explosives, and pyrotechnics are to be disposed in an environmental safe manner. The nitroaromatic compound 2,4-Dinitrotoluene (DNTT) is a precursor for the manufacture of 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene and polyurethane foam and extensively used in manufacturing propellants and explosives. A number of treatment technologies have been proposed to convert DNT to innocuous products or to separate it before it reaches the waste stream. Recently a basidiomycete, Phanerochaete chrysosporium, commonly known as a `white rot fungus` have been shown to be a potential microorganism for mineralizing DNT. Use of this fungus has been tested for decontaminating explosive contaminated soil. The objective of this study is to enhance the degradation rate of DNT by selecting proper reactor configuration and subsequently to model the degradation kinetics for scale-up purpose to treat wastewater containing DNT.