Putrefactive degradation

Biological deterioration of water quality is primarily caused by toxic substances, products of putrefactive degradation, pathogens and radioactive substances. A schematic illustration of the effect of pollutants on water quality in the recipient is shown in Fig. 3.39. 

Scheme 4 shows another kind of biological hydrolysis, the putrefactive degradation of casein [11]. The later reaction is also a hydrolysis, but in contrast to the hydrolysis of PHB the resulting degradation products (amino acids) are used in the anabolic cycle forming new proteins. 

Karlsson, S., Banhidi, Z.G. and Albertsson, A.C. (1989) Gaschromatographic detection of volatile amines formed in indoor air due to putrefactive degradation of casein-containing building materials, Materials and Structures 22,163-169. Albertsson, A-C., Barenstedt, C. and Karlsson, S. (1994) Abiotic degradation products from enhanced environmentally degradable polyethylene, Acta Polymerica, 45,97-103. 

Direct measurement of putrefaction is problematic. In laboratory microcosms in which radiolabeled (35S) algae were allowed to settle and decay on top of lake sediments, a net release of less than 5% of the to the water column was observed, and all release occurred within the first 2 weeks (38). However, ongoing microbial uptake of sulfate from the water column may have obscured further release. Maximal potential rates of cystine degradation were estimated by Jones et al. (81) to range from 0.001 to 50 xmol/L per day in Blelham Tarn sediments and by Dunnette (82) to range from 28 to 47 xmol/L per day in sediments from two lakes. Similar measurements of potential rates of hydrolysis of sulfate esters (83) tremendously overestimated the rates calculated by mass balance to occur in sediments of Wintergreen Lake (73). A better understanding of putrefaction is needed to predict retention and concentrations of S in sediments. 

Properties White crystals. Mp 83-84C, bp 209-210C (18 mm Hg). Soluble in water slightly soluble in alcohol. A product of the degradation of histidine, histamine occurs in animal and human body tissues and is liberated by injury to the tissue or whenever a protein is decomposed by putrefactive bacteria. 

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... 

Organic substances present in putrefactive sludges are biologically degraded during storage, which results in hygienic defects. Therefore, they need to be stabilized. 

During storage periods, putrefaction processes can proceed in different raw food samples resulting in nucleoside degradation, pH, and redox potential changes. Barat and... 

Damaging of cotton fibers, fabrics and textile products by microorganisms is primarily accompanied by occurrence of colored yellow, orange, red, violet, and so on spots and then by putrefactive odor and finally the product loses strength and degrades [18-23]. 

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