Solid-state 15N NMR was applied to the aqueous extracts of a 13C-enriched plant slurry (Lolium perenne), anaerobically incubated with 15N3-trinitrotoluene (TNT). Almost all 15N3-TNT transformation products became covalently bound to the plant-derived organic material extractable with water. DCPMAS 15N 13C NMR revealed a three-step reaction scheme. After reduction of TNT, the aryl amines are acetylated. Subsequent alkylation of the resulting amides strengthens the incorporation of TNT-transformation products into humic material. Comparable results have been recently obtained under aerobic conditions, which indicates that this pathway is a common process during biological TNT transformation.

Peer reviewed