Toxicity Assessment of Energetic Materials by Using the Luminescent Bacteria Inhibition Test

Abstract

The luminescent bacteria inhibition test using Aliivibrio fischeri is a well-established method to determine the aquatic toxicity of soluble chemicals. More precisely, the effective concentration (EC50) after 15 and 30 min is determined in this test. The inhibition of natural bioluminescence of these bacteria gives a first idea of the toxicity of compounds towards some aquatic organisms. It is a cost and time efficient experimental method, which does not involve animals. In this contribution, the experimental set up, comparability with other measurements, and results of recently described compounds is presented. Different types of energetic materials such as coordination (e. g. [Cu(dtp)3](ClO4)2 and [Fe(MTZ)6](ClO4)2), neutral (e. g. azidoethanol, 1- and 2-aminotetrazole) and ionic (e. g. polynitropyrazolates and PETNC salts) compounds were investigated and compared to commonly used materials, like RDX, ammonium perchlorate (AP) and azide salts. Furthermore, different substitution patterns and energetic functionalities such as azido-, nitro- and nitramino-groups were investigated.