Behavior of Autotrophic Perchlorate Reducing Bacteria and Analysis of Research Department Explosive [Rdx] in Water by High Performance Liquid Chromatography, Hplc/Uv

Perchlorate, [ClO₄^-] contamination in ground and surface waters can cause serious human health hazards, severe ecological and environmental consequences. ClO₄^- can disrupt thyroid function, may impact fetal and newborn development, resulting in changes in behavior and learning capability. Many times ClO₄^- is a co-contaminant with Research Department Explosive [RDX]. This research investigated biological reduction of ClO₄^- and RDX by autotrophic sulfur oxidizing bacteria. ClO₄^- was analyzed with Ion Chromatography [IC]. RDX can enter the water from disposal of waste water from Army ammunitions plants. It can enter water or soil from spills or leaks from improper disposal at hazardous waste sites. RDX can cause seizures in humans and animals when large amounts are inhaled or ingested. The Environmental Protection Agency [EPA] has determined that RDX is a possible human carcinogen [Class C]. The RDX was measured with High Performance Liquid Chromatography [HPLC] with a Photo Diode Array Detector [PDA]. The experiment was conducted following the Method 8330 from EPA. The bacteria population change was determined with a Bicinchoninic Acid [BCA] Protein Assay. Regarding the bacteria population, we saw an increase from 190 µg/ml to 270 µg/ml protein in the solution over 20 days. ClO₄^- was degraded from 9.2 ppm to 8.6 ppm. In the case of RDX alone with the bacteria, RDX degraded from an initially 475 ppb to below the Method Detection Limit [MDL] (about 5 ppb). Also the RDX, ClO₄^- and the bacteria, the concentration of RDX was decreased from 467 ppb to lower than the MDL. In conclusion the setup for the RDX analysis was accomplished and the bacteria can degrade both contaminants, ClO₄^- and RDX.