Quantitative gas-liquid chromatography of taurine

A method has been developed for the determination of taurine by gas-liquid chromatography. The method involves the conversion of taurine into its N-isobutyloxycarbonyl di-n-butylamide derivative and chromatography on a 1.5% OV-17 column. The derivative can be prepared in quantitative yield, having good chromatographic properties. The calibration curve for taurine in the range 5-500 nmol was linear and sufficiently reproducible for quantitative determination. Complex biological material such as urine can be analysed accurately and precisely by this method without prior clean-up of the sample.