RESEARCH WATCH
BIOREMEDIATION Breakdown of explosives Serious environmental contamination has been caused by the production and disposal of explosives such as hexahydro-l,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5triazine (RDX). D. Young and colleagues studied the breakdown of RDX in slurry reactors and determined the performance of various biodegrading species and nutrients. Although adding bacteria to the system increased the rate of RDX breakdown, the enhancement may not justify their use which can be pensive. Corn steep liquor QYI inexpensive, rich nutrient source, nro _ vided enough nutrients for RDX breakdown Because of reactor sysheterogeneity the rate of RDX breakdown was not constant throughout the experiment Tf t h e nutrient SUDDIV is ODtimized RDX
can break down in as little as 1 5 months; thus this method is an attractive alternative to incineration (Rintprhnnl
Rinpnp 1997
