Product Description
Basic Information
- Chemical Name and Structure: Taurine is chemically named 2 - aminoethanesulfonic acid and is a sulfur - containing β - amino acid. Its molecular formula is C2H7NO3S. The structure is relatively simple, and the molecule contains an amino group (- NH2) and a sulfonic acid group (- SO3H), which endow taurine with a variety of chemical properties.
- Appearance and Properties: Taurine powder is usually white crystalline or crystalline powder, odorless, and slightly acidic in taste. This appearance characteristic makes it relatively easy to handle during product processing and will not cause undesirable effects such as off - odors in many formulations.
Physical and Chemical Properties
- Solubility: Taurine has good solubility in water and can form a transparent solution. Its solubility at room temperature is relatively high, approximately 10 - 12g/100mL of water. It is slightly soluble in organic solvents such as ethanol. This property limits its application in some pure organic solvent systems, but it can still play a role in water - organic solvent mixed systems.
- Stability: Taurine is a relatively stable compound. Under normal temperature and pressure, it will not easily decompose or undergo chemical reactions. However, under extreme conditions such as strong acids and alkalis, its chemical structure may be damaged. For example, in a high - temperature and strongly acidic environment, the amino and sulfonic acid groups may undergo protonation or other chemical reactions.
- Acidity and Alkalinity: The aqueous solution of taurine is weakly acidic, and its pH value is approximately between 4.1 and 5.6. This is because the sulfonic acid group is relatively acidic, making the solution as a whole acidic. This weak acidity affects its compatibility with other substances to some extent.
Sources and Production Methods
- Natural Sources: Taurine is widely distributed in nature and is present in high amounts in the tissues and organs of animals. It can be found in shellfish, fish, and the heart, liver, and brain of mammals. Marine organisms are an important natural source of taurine. For example, oysters and other shellfish are rich in taurine, with the taurine content in 100g of fresh oysters reaching 700 - 800mg.
- Chemical Synthesis Method: Industrially, taurine powder is mainly produced through chemical synthesis. A common method is the ethanolamine method. Ethanolamine and sulfuric acid are reacted first to synthesize 2 - aminoethyl sulfate, and then it is reacted with sodium sulfite to produce taurine. The advantage of this method is that the raw materials are readily available, the reaction conditions are relatively easy to control, and it can produce taurine on a large scale to meet market demand.
Nutritional Value and Physiological Functions
- Effect on the Cardiovascular System: Taurine can regulate the calcium homeostasis of cardiomyocytes and has a protective effect on the heart. It can enhance myocardial contractility, reduce blood pressure, and reduce the occurrence of arrhythmia. For example, in some animal experiments, after supplementing taurine to hypertensive model animals, the blood pressure showed a significant downward trend.
- Support for the Nervous System: Taurine is an important neurotransmitter and neuromodulator in the central nervous system. It plays a crucial role in brain development and can promote the proliferation and differentiation of nerve cells. At the same time, taurine can also regulate the stability and excitability of nerve cell membranes and improve memory and learning ability. The addition of taurine to infant formula is to better support the brain development of infants.
- Benefits for the Eyes: Taurine is present in high amounts in the retina of the eye and can maintain the normal structure and function of the retina. Specifically, taurine can regulate the osmotic pressure of the retina and protect retinal cells from damage in a hypertonic environment. In addition, it also participates in the conduction of visual signals and has a certain effect on improving vision and preventing eye diseases such as retinopathy.
- Strengthening of the Immune System: Taurine can enhance the body's immune function. It can promote the activity of immune cells (such as lymphocytes and macrophages) and improve the body's anti - infection ability. Research shows that in some people with low immune function, after supplementing taurine, the number and activity of immune cells in the body have increased.
Product Quality Standards and Specifications
- Purity Standard: High - quality taurine powder generally requires a purity of more than 98.5%. High - purity taurine powder can ensure its safety and effectiveness in applications. Products with lower purity may contain impurities, which may have an adverse impact on the use effect and, in some cases, may even harm human health.
- Heavy Metal Content Limit: In product quality testing, there are strict limits on the content of heavy metals (such as lead, mercury, arsenic, etc.). For example, according to the standards of food additives, the lead content in taurine powder generally should not exceed 1mg/kg, the mercury content should not exceed 0.1mg/kg, and the arsenic content should not exceed 1mg/kg. These limits are to prevent safety problems such as heavy metal poisoning.
- Microbial Indicators: There are also clear regulations for the microbial indicators of taurine powder. For example, the total number of bacteria generally should not exceed 1000CFU/g, the total number of molds and yeasts should not exceed 100CFU/g, and pathogenic bacteria such as coliforms and Salmonella should not be detected. The control of these microbial indicators is to ensure the hygienic quality of the product.
Application Areas
- Food Industry
- As a Nutritional Fortifier: Taurine is widely added to infant formula, sports drinks, functional foods and other products. In infant formula, it is an important nutrient that can mimic the taurine content in breast milk and promote the growth and development of infants. In sports drinks, taurine can help relieve fatigue and improve athletic performance.
- Food Preservation: Taurine also has a certain antioxidant and preservative effect. It can delay the oxidation process of food and extend the shelf life of food. For example, adding taurine to some meat products can reduce fat oxidation and maintain the color and flavor of the meat products.
- Pharmaceutical Industry
- As a Drug Ingredient: Taurine can be made into drugs to treat a variety of diseases. For example, in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases, taurine tablets can assist in reducing blood pressure and improving myocardial ischemia and other symptoms. In the treatment of ophthalmic diseases, taurine eye drops can be used to treat early - stage retinopathy, visual fatigue and other eye problems.
- As a Pharmaceutical Excipient: Taurine can also be used as a pharmaceutical excipient to improve the stability, solubility and other properties of drugs. For example, in the preparation of some poorly - soluble drugs, adding taurine can increase the solubility of the drug, thereby increasing the bioavailability of the drug.
- Feed Industry
- Animal Nutritional Supplement: Adding taurine to animal feed can improve the growth performance and immunity of animals. For example, in aquaculture, adding taurine to feed can promote the growth of fish and shrimp and enhance the disease - resistance of fish and shrimp. In pet food, taurine is also an important nutrient, especially important for the vision and heart health of cats, because cats cannot synthesize enough taurine by themselves and need to obtain it from food.
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