Studies on the Photolysis of Sulfur Containing Compounds in Foods

The aqueous solutions of 2-alkyl-thiazolidine-4-carboxylic acids and mercaptals of l-cysteine were exposed to sunlight in the presence of a small amount of riboflavin. Hydrogen sulfide, ammonia, carbon dioxide and carbonyl compounds were the photolysis products.

As for the carbonyl compounds, formaldehyde and acetaldehyde were identified from thiazolidine-4-carboxylic acid and djenkolic acid, acetaldehyde from 2-methyl-thiazolidine-4-carboxylic acid and l-cysteine-mercaptal of acetaldehyde, and acetaldehyde and n-butyraldehyde from 2-n-propyl-thiazolidine-4-carboxylic acid and l-cysteine-mercaptal of n-butyraldehyde.