Title

Isolation of Three Hexahydro-1,3,5-Trinitro-1,3,5-Triazine- Degrading Species of the Family Enterobacteriaceae from Nitramine Explosive-Contaminated Soil

Author Info

Christopher Kitts, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New MexicoFollow
Daryl P. Cunningham, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico
Pat J. Unkefer, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico

Recommended Citation

Postprint version. Published in Applied and Environmental Microbiology, Volume 60, Issue 12, December 1, 1994, pages 4608-4711.

NOTE: At the time of publication, the author Christopher Kitts was not yet affiliated with Cal Poly.

Abstract

Three species of the family Enterobacteriaceae that biochemically reduced hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine (RDX) and octahydro-1,3,5,7-tetranitro-1,3,5,7-tetrazocine (HMX) were isolated from nitramine explosive-contaminated soil. Two isolates, identified as Morganella morganii and Providencia rettgeri, completely transformed both RDX and the nitroso-RDX reduction intermediates. The third isolate, identified as Citrobacter freundii, partially transformed RDX and generated high concentrations of nitroso-RDX intermediates. All three isolates produced ¹⁴CO₂ from labeled RDX under O₂-depleted culture conditions. While all three isolates transformed HMX, only M. morganii transformed HMX in the presence of RDX.

Disciplines

Biology

Copyright

1994 American Society for Microbiology.

Publisher statement

All Rights Reserved. The definitive version can be found online at http://aem.asm.org/cgi/content/abstract/60/12/4608.