NOVEL CATALYTIC APPLICATION FOR THE TREATMENT OF NITRO AROMATIC COMPOUNDS (NACS) AND NITRATE IN GROUNDWATER Krishna Pallavi , David C. Finster, Mark N. Goltz and Abinash Agrawal* Wright State University, Dayton, OH 45435 Groundwater contamination by NACs and nitrate Treatment of nitro aromatic compounds (NACs) is of interest because the nitroaromatic moiety is frequently found in anthropogenic contaminants, being second in this regard only to the organochlorine functional group. NACs are common environmental contaminants because of their use as munitions, insecticides, herbicides, pharmaceuticals, and industrial feedstock chemicals for dyes, plastics, etc. 1 . An important transformation process affecting the environmental fate of NACs involves the reduction of the nitro group. This transformation reaction generally produces the corresponding amines, with minor amounts of arylhydroxylamines and nitroso- intermediates, and potentially some azo- and azoxy- compounds too, through coupling reactions. However, since aromatic amines are still of concern as environmental contaminants, the treatment of NACs requires transformation beyond nitro reduction. Two possible means of obtaining complete removal of NAC transformation products are (i) biodegradation, which may sometimes occur more rapidly for aromatic amines than for the parent compounds, and (ii) incorporation into natural organic matter by enzyme-catalyzed coupling reactions 1 . Natural attenuation of NACs in field conditions includes various complex pathways 2 , such as reductive biotransformation and partial mineralization 3 , and phytoremediation 4 through processes like plant uptake. Currently, however, monitored natural attenuation as a strategy to address field sites contaminated by NACs under favorable geochemical conditions 5 requires further demonstration. Thus, there is a need for efficient engineered treatment techniques to manage aquifers contaminated with NACs. Further, nitrate is a ubiquitous pollutant, and its presence has increased in many parts Preprints of Extended Abstracts Vol. 42 No. 1 142 GENERAL PAPERS Organized by T. Mill Symposia Papers Presented Before the Division of Environmental Chemistry American Chemical Society Orlando, FL April 7-11, 2002