Determination of chemical properties of meat:

Determination of trimethylamine oxide (TMAO-

N), trimethylamine (TMA-N), total volatile
basic nitrogen (TVB-N) by Conway's method

Item Type book_section

Authors Ng, Cher Siang

Publisher Marine Fisheries Research Department, Southeast Asian

Fisheries Development Center

Download date 23/03/2024 09:46:07

Link to Item http://hdl.handle.net/1834/41010

 DETERMINATION OF TRIMETHYLAMINE OXIDE (TMAO-N),
TRIMETHYLAMINE (TMA-N), TOTAL VOLATILE BASIC
NITROGEN (TVB-N) BY CONWAY’S METHOD
NG C.S.

INTRODUCTION
Trimethylamine oxide (TMAO) is a nitrogenous compound commonly present in marine
organisms. It has been suggested that TMAO functions as an osmoregulator in these animals.
The degradation of TMAO into simpler compounds such as trimethylamine (TMA), dimethyla­
mine (DMA) and formaldehyde (FA) depends on the enzymes present in the tissue.

Generally, TMAO breaks down to TMA in marine fishes, either by endogenous enzymes,
bacteria enzymes or both. However in gadoid fishes, the TMAO is broken down to DMA and FA.

The use of TMA as an index of fish freshness was first proposed by Beatty and Gibbons
(1936). This was based on the observation that the production of TMA was dependent on
bacteria activity, and the role of autolysis was negligible. The source of TMA in ordinary muscle
is due to the bacterial degradation of TMAO to TMA, while in dark muscles, TMA was derived
both from bacteria activity as well as from endogenous enzymes.

In recent years, there are opinions that TMA itself may not be a very suitable freshness
index. This is because the TMA content in a fish may vary with season, and also, the distribution
of TMA within a piece of fillet may not be uniform. Under the local conditions, TMA was found to
be a good indicator of freshness for white pomfret, Chinese pomfret, grouper and siakap. TMA
is not a good indicator of freshness for lizard fish. Instead, DMA and FA are suitable indices.

The total volatile basic substances (TVB) in fish meat is mainly composed of ammonia,
TMA, and DMA. The level of TVB increases after spoilage begins (both enzymatic and bacterial).
It does not distinguish the origin nor component of these volatile compounds, hence its use is
more general.

In this laboratory, the microdiffusion method devised by Conway is adopted. In this

method, TMA, TMAO and TVB are determined as their nitrogen. To obtain the actual amount of
TMA or TMAO the nitrogen values must be divided by the amount of nitrogen present per
molecule of TMA or TMAO.

PRINCIPLE OF THE CONWAY UNIT IN DETERMINATION OF TVB

The solution in the inner ring of the Conway unit contains a 1% solution of boric acid with
bromocresol green and methyl red indicator. The sample extract is in the outer ring. On the
addition of K2CO3 the sample extract becomes alkaline. The TMA and related compounds
present in the sample extract are released in alkaline condition as volatile compounds. The
volatile compounds diffuse into the boric acid solution to form boric acid salt of these
compounds. These salts are reduced to HCl-salts by a strong acid (HCl) during titration.

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I REAGENTS
a) Inner ring solution — 1% boric acid solution containing indicator:
Take 10 g of boric acid in 1 litre flask, add 200 ml of ethanol. After dissolving boric acid,
add 10 ml of mixed indicator solution, then make up to 1 litre with distilled water.

b) Mixed indicator solution:

Dissolve bromocresol green (BCG) 0.01 g and methyl red (MR) 0.02 g in 10 ml of ethanol.

c) 0.02N HCl:
Dilute 20 ml of 1N HCl standard solution with distilled water and make up to 1000 ml.

d) Saturated K2CO3 solution:

Take 60 g of potassium carbonate (K2CO3), and add 50 ml of distilled water. Boil gently for
10 min. After cooling down, obtain filtrate through filter paper.

e) 50% K2CO3 solution:

Dilute saturated K2CO3 solution twice with distilled water.

f) 4% trichloroacetic acid (CCl3COOH) (TCA) solution:

Dissolve 40 g of TCA in 960 ml of distilled water.

g) Sealing agent:
Take 3 g of Tragacanth gum, add 30 ml of distilled water, 15 ml of glycerine and 15 ml of
50% saturated K2CO3 solution and mix well.

h) Neutralized 10% formaldehyde solution:

Add 10 g of MgCO3 to 100 ml of formalin (35% formaldehyde solution) and shake in order
to neutralize the acidity of formalin. Filter and dilute filtrate 3 times with distilled water.

i) 1% TiCl3 aqueous solution:

Take 6.7 ml of 15% TiCl3 solution into 100 ml volumetric flask and make up to 100 ml with
distilled water.

j) Saturated KNO3 aqueous solution:

Dissolve about 55 g of KNO3 in 50 ml of distilled water.

II APPARATUS
Conway’s unit:
Wash with detergent (use neutral detergent if available), then rinse with running water and
leave until dry. Do not wipe with cloth.

Micro-burette

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Ill PROCEDURE
A. SAMPLE EXTRACTION
1. Take 2 g of fish meat in a mortar and grind well.

2. Add 8 ml of 4% TCA solution and grind well.

3. Stand for 30 min at ambient temp. with occassional grinding.

4. Filter through filter paper (Whatman No. 41). (or Centrifuge at 3000 rpm, for 10 min.)

5. Keep the filtrate in -20°C freezer if necessary.

B. DETERMINATION OF TVB-N
1. Apply sealing agent to Conway’s unit.

2. Pipette 1 ml of inner ring solution into inner ring.

3. Pipette 1 ml of sample extract into outer ring.

4. Slant the Conway’s unit with cover.

5. Pipette 1 ml of saturated K2CO3 solution into outer ring.

6. Close the unit.

7. Mix gently.

8. Stand for 60 min. at 37°C in incubator.

9. Titrate inner ring solution with o.o2N HCl using a micro-burette until green colour turns
to pink.

10. Do blank test using 1 ml of 4% TCA instead of sample extract.

C. DETERMINATION OF TMA-N
Principle of TMA-N determination is similar to TVB-N determination except addition of
formaldehyde to the sample solution. Formaldehyde is added in order to fix any ammonia
present in the sample.

1. Apply sealing agent to Conway’s unit.

2. Pipette 1 ml of inner ring solution into inner ring.

3. Pipette 1 ml of sample extract into outer ring.

4. Pipette 1 ml of neutralized 10% formaldehyde into outer ring.

5. Slant the Conway’s unit with cover.

6. Pipette 1 ml of saturated K2CO3 solution into outer ring.

7. Close the unit.

8. Mix gently.

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9. Stand fo r 60 min. at 37°C in incubator.

10. Titrate inner ring solution with 0.02N-HCI using a micro-burette until green colour turns
to pink.

11. Do blank test using 1 ml of 4% TCA instead of sample extract.

CALCULATION OF TMA-N OR TVBN

TMA-N or Amt. of HCl Amt. of ammonium Ratio of the amount

TVBN used in x nitrogen equivalent to x of sample used to
(mg/100 g) titration 1 ml of 0.02N HCI 100 g muscle

M
( WS x + VE x 100
100
— (VS VB) x (NHCl
– x A N) x
WS

where
VS = Titration volume of 0.02N HCI for sample extract (ml)
VB = Titration volume for blank (ml)
N HCl = Normality of HCI (=0.02N x f, factor of HCI)
An = Atomic weight of Nitrogen (x 14.00)
WS = Weight of muscle sample (g)
M = percentage moisture of muscle sample.
VE = Volume of 4% TCA used in extraction
NOTE: 1 ml of 0.02N HCI = 0.28 ammonium nitrogen
= (NHCl x f x 14.00)

D. DETERMINATION OF TMAO-N

Reduction of sample extract

1. Take 2 ml of the filtrate (sample extract) or its dilute into a test tube.

2. Add 1 ml of 1% TiCI3 and fully mix, then confirm that pink colour does not disappear.

3. Stand in an 80°C water bath for 90 sec.

4. Add saturated KNO3 dropwise until the pink colour disappears.

5. Cool in water.

B-3.4
6. Transfer the solution to 10 ml volumetric flask.

7. Make up to 10 ml with distilled water.

8. Proceed as for TMA-N determination.

CALCULATION OF TMAO-N
TMAO-N = (TMA-N after TiCl3 reduction)* — (TMA-N before TiCl3 reduction)

* Care must be taken to obtain the correct dilution factor since in TMAO-N determination, the
sample was made up to 10 ml before applying into the Conway unit.

ANNEX I. SCHEMATIC FORM FOR PREPARATION OF REAGENTS

REAGENTS
a) Inner ring solution

b) 0.02N-HCl (Accurate)
Dilute 20 ml of 1N-HCl with water and make the volume to 1 litre.

c) Saturated potassium carbonate

d) 50% saturated potassium carbonate

Dilute c) solution with water (1:1).

B-3.5
e) 10% TCA
Dissolve 100 g of trichloroacetic acid (CCl3COOH) in 900 ml of water.

f) 5% TCA
Dilute e) solution with water (1:1).

g) Sealing agent

ANNEX II. SCHEMATIC FORM FOR PREPARATION OF SAMPLE FOR TVB-N AND TMA

B-3.6
ANNEX III. PROCEDURE FOR TVB-N DETERMINATION

Do blank test using 1 ml 4% TCA instead of sample.

B-3.7
ANNEX IV. PROCEDURE FOR TMA-N DETERMINATION

Do blank test using 1 ml 4% TCA instead of sample.

REFERENCES
Beatty, S.A. and N.E. Gibbons (1936)
The measurement of spoilage of fish. J.Biol.Bd. Can. 3:77-91.

Conway, E.J. and A. Byrne (1936)

An absorption apparatus for the micro-determination of certain volatile substances. I. The
micro-determination of ammonia. Biochem. J. 27:419-429.

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