Combined Biotic-Abiotic 2,4-Dinitroanisole Degradation in the Presence of Hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine.

The Department of Defense has developed new explosive formulations in which traditionally used cyclic nitramines such as hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine (RDX) have been updated with the insensitive munition (IM) 2,4-dinitroanisole (DNAN). Understanding combined degradation of both compounds at explosive-contaminated sites will allow remediation approaches that simultaneously target both contaminants. DNAN reduction in the presence of RDX was evaluated in abiotic experiments using substoichiometric, stoichiometric, and superstoichiometric concentrations of ferrous iron and anthrahydroquinone disulfonate within a pH range from 7.0 to 9.0. Biological degradation was investigated in resting cell suspensions of Geobacter metallireducens strain GS-15, a model Fe(III)-reducing Bacteria. Cells were amended into anoxic tubes buffered at pH 7.0, with initial 100 μM DNAN and 40-50 μM RDX. In both abiotic and biological experiments, the DNAN was reduced through the intermediate 2-methoxy-5-nitroaniline or 4-methoxy-3-nitroaniline to 2,4-diaminoanisole. In biological experiments, the RDX was reduced to form methylenedinitramine, formaldehyde (HCHO), and ammonium (NH4+). Cells were able to reduce both DNAN and RDX most readily in the presence of extracellular electron shuttles and/or Fe(III). DNAN degradation (abiotic and biotic) was faster than degradation of RDX, suggesting that the reduction of IMs will not be inhibited by cyclic nitramines, but degradation dynamics did change in mixtures when compared to singular compounds.