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8387933 
Journal Article 
Microbial degradation of energetic compounds 
Bruce, NC 
1998 
1 
Journal of Chemical Technology and Biotechnology
ISSN: 0268-2575
EISSN: 1097-4660 
71 
4 
362-264 
English 
The considerable amount of land and water contaminated with explosives is a major environmental problem facing the military. In connection, a number of studies have demonstrated that this problem can be solved by microbial degradation. A variety of microorganisms capable of breaking down the explosives pentaerythritol tetranitrate, glycerol trinitrate, hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine and trinitrotoluene under aerobic conditions have been isolated. Considerable progress has also been made towards understanding the biochemistry and molecular biology of explosives metabolism in these organisms.