BEAUTIFUL TAURINE CRYSTALS!
Added 2025-08-19 16:31:54 +0000 UTCAfter reacting the 75g of 2-bromoethylamine hydrobromide with 52g sodium sulfite and boiling down, I was left with cake of discolored taurine and sodium bromide. To purify it, I had to wash the mass several times with concentrated hydrochloric acid, which apparently dissolves taurine quite well without taking up much bromide. The acid extracts were then combined, boiled down to about 70mL, and mixed with 290mL of ethanol to crash out the taurine. The solid taurine was finally filtered and recrystallized (still awaiting a final yield after drying). This all worked surprisingly well, and I got several cool videos of the taurine recrystallizing from ethanol/water mixtures (see above image).
At some point, I'll get this sent off for analysis and then try making an energy drink from it, but for now, I need to focus on the other projects that have kinda been piling up. Class starts back next week!
