Taurine possible essentiality

Note Primary amines yield fluorescent chromatogram zones even before the application of reagent 3. Secondary amines do not yield fluorescent derivatives until they have been treated with reagent 3. Hence, the reagent sequence allows the stepwise detection of primary and secondary amines. Taurine is preferred as the essential component of reagent 3 over the multiplicity of other possibilities because it produces intense fluorescence it is also not very volatile and is readily available. Amides and substances with peptide linkages, eg. hippuric acid, are not detected, neither are secondary amines that are volatile at high temperatures. 

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