Buffer Solutions Based on Taurine

Abstract

The acid-base interaction in the aminoethanesulfonic acid (taurine, Tau) – potassium aminoethanesulfonate – water system was studied by pH-, redox- and conductometric methods in the temperature range 293–313 K. The ion-molecular composition of NH2CH2CH2SO3H –NH2CH2CH2SO3K – H2O system was calculated. It is shown aminoethanesulfonic acid in aqueous solutions to exist at the ratio CKOH/QTau < 0.5 mainly in the zwitterion form similar to systems with glycine, aminomethanesulfonic acid and its N‑alkylated derivatives. The content of the aminoethanesulfonate anion is directly proportional to the CKOH/QGly ratio. The studied system ionic strength and acid-base dissociation constant for the second stage of the aminoethanesulfonic acid concentration and temperature dependences were determined. The ionic strength values at the isoelectric point (mi.p.)are directly proportional to С0Tau and practically do not depend on the temperature within the error for the same series С0Tau and С0KOH .The pH limits of the buffer action are determined and the buffer capacity of these systems is estimated. It has been established that effective buffer zones of Tau aqueous solutions can to maintain acidity in the higher then physiological pH range at temperature range 293–313 K. The buffer capacity of NH2CH2CH2SO3H – NH2CH2CH2SO3K – H2O system exceeds the analogous values of YNHCH2SO3H – YNHCH2SO3K – H2O (Y = H, CH3, CH2CH2OH, C(CH3)3 and C2H5C6H5) systems. The obtained data on the buffer capacity of the aminoethanesulfonic acid – potassium aminoethanesulfonate – water system can be used in chemical analysis, microbiological and biochemical studies, and the acidity data of the solutions studied can simulate the chemisorption of acid gases (carbon and sulfur dioxides).