Amines in Fish Muscle: I. Colorimetric Determination of Trimethylamine as the Picrate Salt

A sensitive accurate colorimetric method for trimethylamine determination is presented, based on the extraction with toluene of an alkaline sample containing 0.002 to 0.02 mg. trimethylamine nitrogen, and the formation of the yellow coloured picrate by mixing with a picric acid reagent. The application of the method in fishery products and effects of interfering substances have been investigated.