Identification of nitrogen compounds from degradation of dinitrotoluene and toluylenediamine isomers within an industrial purification plant

The structure elucidation of some intermediates of the transformation of dinitrotoluene and toluylenediamine isomers is described. Methylnitroanilines, quinoxalines, benzimidazoles and cresols were identified using GC/MS, LC/MS and LC and UV detection. The separation of compounds from the aqueous phase was carried out by solid phase extraction with various column packings. The origin of the purification plant residue coloring is clarified and the related sources and possible pathways of formation of some compounds are given. Finally the results of biodegradation and ecotoxicological experiments [1] are discussed.