Putrefaction detection

Apart from terpenoic compounds a significant proportion of 3-methylindole (skatole) with up to 1400 pg/L was detected mainly in the extracts with low to moderately polar substances (see Fig. 2a). Skatole is a well known degradation product of the nitrogen-containing amino acid tryptophane. Generally the occurence of skatole accompanied by phenol and cresol can be regarded as an indicator for putrefaction processes. 

Within the moderately polar substances of the second extracts phenolic compounds were most abundant (see Fig. 2B). Next to p-cresol (260-12000 pg/L), a further product of amino acid degradation and putrefaction processes, the xenobiotic compound 2,2-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)propane (bisphenol A) was detected with concentrations up to 25000 pg/L in seepage water samples. The amount in the sample LW was significantly lower (4200 pg/L) indicating a rapid degradation of these phenols during... 

Karlsson, S., Banhidi, Z.G. and Albertsson, A.C. (1988) Detection by high performance liquid chromatography of polyamines formed by clostridial putrefaction of caseins. J. Chrom. 442,267-277. 

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