Bioremediation of 2,4,6-Trinitrotoluene by novel strains of aerobic bacteria

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buir.advisorTekinay, Turgay
dc.contributor.authorGümüşcü, Burcu
dc.date.accessioned2016-01-08T18:24:34Z
dc.date.available2016-01-08T18:24:34Z
dc.date.issued2012
dc.departmentGraduate Program in Materials Science and Nanotechnologyen_US
dc.descriptionAnkara : The Materials Science and Nanotechnology Program of the Graduate School of Engineering and Science of Bilkent University, 2012.en_US
dc.descriptionThesis (Master's) -- Bilkent University, 2012.en_US
dc.descriptionIncludes bibliographical references leaves 100-114.en_US
dc.description.abstract2,4,6-Trinitrotoluene (TNT) has been used extensively for military purposes since its invention in the late 19th century. TNT is a highly toxic and recalcitrant substance due to its multiple nitrated molecular configuration. TNT residues can enter biological systems and constitute a significant risk to human health. To this end, biological approaches promise great potential for removal of TNT in both aqueous and terrestrial environments by the usage of microorganisms. However, remediation capabilities of these organisms are limited due to their inadequate survival and degradation capacity in the environment. To address these issues, we investigated and demonstrated high degradation performance of novel bacterial strains isolated from TNT-contaminated sites, Citrobacter murliniae STE 10, Achromobacter spanius STE 11, Kluyvera cryocrescens STE 12, and Enterobacter amnigenus STE 13, for an enhanced remediation process. In the first part of this thesis, we developed a novel HPLC method on a Diol-functionalized chromatography column for accurate, rapid, economic, and environmentally friendly detection of nitroaromatic compounds. Data obtained from chromatography measurements clearly verified that the minimum limit of detection values for TNT and TNT metabolites (0.78-1.17 µg/L) were lower than the values obtained by previous reports and the widely used EPA method. In the second part, for the first time, we achieved rapid (less than 20 h) TNT decontamination using novel bacterial strains under aerobic conditions at 99.9% efficiency. We showed that TNT was transformed into less toxic and highly reactive metabolites. The data obtained from elemental analysis and HPLC measurements together with FT-IR results indicated that approximately 71.42% of nitrogen from TNT is accumulated in the biomass. In the third part, we designed laboratory-scale compost system for optimization of maximum TNT degradation efficiency. In this study, we observed a strong correlation between degradation capacity of microorganisms and carbon/nitrogen (C/N) ratio, air flow, and TNT amounts. We accomplished a complete TNT degradation (100%) by an in-vessel compost system in 15 days, the shortest period ever reported. These bioremediation approaches hold great promise for efficient and sustainable removal of TNT for safe environment.en_US
dc.description.degreeM.S.en_US
dc.description.statementofresponsibilityGümüşcü, Burcuen_US
dc.format.extentxxii, 116 leaves, illustrationsen_US
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11693/15782
dc.language.isoEnglishen_US
dc.publisherBilkent Universityen_US
dc.rightsinfo:eu-repo/semantics/openAccessen_US
dc.subject2,4,6-Trinitrotoluene,en_US
dc.subjectsustainabilityen_US
dc.subjectbiodegradationen_US
dc.subjecthigh performance liquid chromatographyen_US
dc.subjectcompostingen_US
dc.subjectbacteriaen_US
dc.subjectexplosivesen_US
dc.subject.lccTP290.T8 G85 2012en_US
dc.subject.lcshTNT (Chemical)--Toxicology.en_US
dc.subject.lcshExplosives.en_US
dc.subject.lcshAerobic bacteria.en_US
dc.titleBioremediation of 2,4,6-Trinitrotoluene by novel strains of aerobic bacteriaen_US
dc.typeThesisen_US

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Graduate Program in Materials Science and Nanotechnology - Master's degree