Detection by high-performance liquid chromatography of polyamines formed by clostridial putrefaction of caseins

Casein incorporated in building materials is degraded by species of alkali-tolerant Clostridia. A whole range of compounds have previously been detected in degraded building materials containing casein as an additive by gas chromatography (GC), including volatile and non-volatile organic acids, alcohols, ketones, aldehydes and monoamines. Using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) it was possible, however, also to detect polyamines formed in degraded caseins. Histamine, agmatine, serotonine, tyramine, tryptamine, putrescine and cadaverine were detected in solutions containing casein in which the alkali-tolerant Clostriadia had been grown. Uninoculated, sterile incubated caseins contained no detectable amounts of polyamines. This gives clear evidence of the role of the biotic environment in the degradation of caseins. A combination of GC and HPLC therefore, provides a convenient set of techniques for studying the degradation products of casein.