Electrochemical Reduction of 2,4-Dinitrotoluene in a Continuous Flow Laboratory Scale Reactor
Publication: Journal of Environmental Engineering
Volume 129, Issue 3
Abstract
An electrochemical laboratory scale reactor was used to treat 2,4-dinitrotoluene (DNT). Experiments were conducted by using a graphite carbon cylinder impregnated with glassy carbon (zero porosity) as the cathode and a platinum wire as the anode. All experiments were conducted under anoxic conditions. Initially, experiments simulating batch conditions were conducted to obtain the optimum operating conditions for the reactor. During this batch-mode study, the effect of various parameters such as applied current, electrolyte concentration, and type of electrolyte on the reduction of DNT were evaluated. Results showed that the rates of DNT reduction increased with an increase in current or concentration of electrolyte. Based on the results obtained from the batch simulation experiments, continuous flow experiments were conducted at three different currents and one electrolyte concentration. The ionic strength of the feed solution was maintained at 0.027 M. A current of 200 mA (current density 0.088 mA/cm2) provided a stable reduction of DNT at the 80% level for a period of 14 days after which reactor cleaning was necessary for removal of suspended solids that were formed within the reactor. End products determined for the experiments showed 80–100% molar balance closure.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
References
Berchtold, S. R., Vanderloop, S. L., Suidan, M. T., and Maloney, S. W.(1995). “Treatment of 2,4-dinitrotoluene using a two-stage system: Fluidized bed anaerobic granular activated carbon reactors and aerobic activated sludge reactors.” Water Environ. Res., 67, 1081–1091.
Bradley, P. M., Chapelle, F. H., and Landmeyer, J. E.(1997). “Potential for intrinsic bioremediation of a DNT-contaminated aquifer.” Ground Water, 35(1), 12–17.
Bunce, N. J., Merica, S. G., and Lipkowski, J.(1997). “Prospects for the use of electrochemical methods for the destruction of aromatic organochlorine wastes.” Chemosphere, 35(11), 2719–2726.
Cheng, J., Suidan, M. T., and Venosa, A. D.(1996). “Abiotic reduction of 2,4-dinotrotoluene in the presence of sulfide minerals under anoxic conditions.” Water Sci. Technol., 34(10), 25–33.
Ho, P. C.(1986). “Photooxidation of 2,4-dinitrotoluene in aqueous solution in the presence of hydrogen peroxide.” Environ. Sci. Technol., 20(1), 260–265.
IT Corporation. (1996). “Treatment of propellent production wastewaters containing 2,4-Dinitrotoluene.” Rep. No. SFIM-AEC-ETD-CR-95048, U.S. Army Environmental Center, Aberdeen, Md.
Janssen, H. J., Kruithof, A. J., Steghniuis, G. J., and Westerterp, K. R.(1990). “Kinetics of the catalytic hydrogenation of 2,4-dinitrotoluene-1. Experiments, reaction scheme, and catalyst activity.” Ind. Eng. Chem. Res., 29(5), 754–766.
Jolas, J. L., Pehkonen, S. O., and Maloney, S. W.(2000). “Reduction of 2,4-dinitrotoluene with graphite and titanium mesh cathodes.” Water Environ. Res., 72(2), 179–188.
Kaplan, D. L. (1996). “Biotechnology and bioremediation for organic energetic compounds.” Organic energetic compounds, P. L. Marinkas, ed., Nova, Commack, N.Y.
Lang, P. S., Ching, W. K., Willberg, D. M., and Hoffmann, M. R.(1998). “Oxidative degradation of 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene by ozone in an electrohydraulic discharge reactor.” Environ. Sci. Technol., 32, 3142–3148.
Lessard, J., and Velin Prikidanovics, A.(1990). “An efficient electrosyn thesis of 2,4- and 2,6-diaminotoluenes.” J. Appl. Electrochem., 20, 527–529.
Levsen, K., Mussmann, E., Berger-Preiss, E., Priess, A., Volmer, D., and Wunsch, G.(1993). “Analysis of nitroaromatics and nitramines in ammunition waste water and in aqueous samples from former ammunition plants and other military sites.” Acta Hydrochim. Hydrobiolog.,21, 153–156.
Lewis, R. J. (2000). Sax’s dangerous properties of industrial materials, 10th Ed., Wiley, New York, 1501.
McCormick, N. G., Cornell, J. H., and Kaplan, A. M.(1978). “Identification of biotransformation products from 2,4-dinitrotoluene.” Appl. Environ. Microbiol., 35, 945–948.
Palmer, W. G., Small, M. J., Dacre, J. C., and Eaton, J. C. (1996). Organic energetic compounds, P. L. Marinkas, ed., Nova, Commack, N.Y.
Parrish, F. W.(1977). “Fungal transformation of 2,4-dinitrotoluene and 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene.” Appl. Environ. Microbiol., 47, 1295–1298.
Pehkonen, S. O., Jolas, J. L., Meenashisundaram, D., and Maloney, S. W. (1999). “Electrochemical reduction of nitro-aromatics: 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT), hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine (RDX) and 2,4-dinitrotoluene (DNT).” Technical Rep. No. 99/89, CERL.
Ribordy, P., Pulgarin, C., Kiwi, J., and Peringer, P.(1997). “Electrochemical versus photochemical pretreatment of industrial wastewaters.” Water Sci. Technol., 35(5), 293–302.
Rodgers, J. D., and Bunce, N. J.(2001). “Treatment methods for the remediation of nitroaromatic explosives.” Water Res., 35(9), 2101–2111.
Rodgers, J. D., and Bunce, N. J.(2001b). “Electrochemical treatment of 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene and related compounds.” Environ. Sci. Technol., 35(2), 406–410.
Spanggord, R. J., Spain, J. C., Nishino, S. F., and Mortelmans, K. E.(1991). “Biodegradation of 2,4-dinitrotoluene by a Pseudomonas sp.” Appl. Environ. Microbiol., 57, 5700.
Vanderloop, S. L., Suidan, M. T., Moteleb, M. A., and Maloney, S. W.(1999). “Biotransformation of 2,4-dinitrotoluene under different electron acceptor conditions.” Water Res., 33(5), 1287–1295.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Environmental Engineering
Volume 129 • Issue 3 • March 2003
Pages: 192 - 201
Copyright
Copyright © 2003 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Sep 18, 2001
Accepted: May 15, 2002
Published online: Feb 14, 2003
Published in print: Mar 2003
Authors
Metrics & Citations
Metrics
Citations
Download citation
If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.