Abstract:

A novel method for the spectrophotometric determination of taurine was developed. The method was based on
the inhibitory effect of trace taurine on the reaction of potassium hypermanganate oxidizing rhodamine B in ammonium
chloride/ammonia buffer solution at pH 11.0, resulting in an obvious decrease in the absorbance. The maximum detection
wavelength for fading reaction was 760 nm. A linear relationship was observed between the fading grade and the
concentration of taurine in the range of 0–100 μg/L with an apparent molar absorption coefficient of 1.07 × 106 L/(mol•cm)
and the detection limit was 2.25 μg/L. This method was applied to determine taurine in Sinonovacula constricta, Meretrix
meretrix, Mactra veneriformis and Ruditapes philippinarum. The results revealed good agreement with those obtained by
high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The relative standard deviations were 0.76%–1.08% (n = 6), and the
average recovery rates were 96.93%–102.40%.

Key words: taurine, spectrophotometry, rhodamine B, shellfish