Microbial degradation of the detoxification products of mustard from the Russian chemical weapons stockpile

This work was undertaken to examine the possibility of biodegradation of the organic components of the ‘reaction masses’ (detoxification products) generated by destruction of the chemical warfare agent mustard. The composition of these components was analysed by gas chromatography and mass spectrometry. The major components formed during chemical detoxification were identified as 1,4‐perhydrothiazine derivatives. N‐(2‐Hydroxyethyl)‐2‐methyl‐1,4‐perhydrothiazine hydrochloride and N‐(2‐hydroxyethyl)‐3‐methyl‐1,4‐perhydrothiazine hydrochloride were predominant (about 70% of total 1,4‐perhydrothiazine derivatives). Pseudomonas putida strains that used some organic components of the mustard reaction masses as carbon sources for growth were isolated and selected. Growth cessation in this medium (with organic carbon still available) was due to the depletion of bioutilisable substrates, primarily monoethanolamine and ethylene glycol (the residual components of the detoxifying mixture). 1,4‐Perhydrothiazine derivatives were not used as carbon sources for growth of P putida strain SH1, but their concentration decreased during bacterial growth with monoethanolamine and ethylene glycol as the carbon substrates. It is suggested that 1,4‐perhydrothiazines undergo transformation by the microbial cells under these conditions. Copyright © 2005 Society of Chemical Industry