Fungal degradation of 2, 4-Dinitrotoluene and nitroglycerin in batch and fixed-film bioreactors

Energetic materials, which are the main components of propellants and other explosive mixtures, are characterized as hazardous and must be disposed in an environmentally sound way. Microbially mediated destruction of energetic chemicals shows great promise for converting these substances to innocuous products. A number of fungal species namely Phanerochaete chrysosporium, Penicillium corylophilum, Aspergelus fumigatus, and Geotricum candidum have the ability to attack energetic materials and completely mineralize them into carbon dioxide and water. This paper presents results on the biodegradation of 2, 4-Dinitrotoluene and nitroglycerin by P. chrysosporium in completely mixed batch reactors and in continuous flow immobilized bed systems. The fungus was able to degrade both compounds and the observed intermediates in the presence of a co-substrate.