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Ammonium isethionate CAS NO.: 57267-78-4 core starting material for taurine

September 16, 2026

Product Overview:

Ammonium isethionate (CAS 57267-78-4) is a high-value organic sulfonate fine chemical intermediate. It is mainly applied for industrial taurine synthesis with mature and stable process performance. Additionally, it is used for pharmaceutical intermediate synthesis, specialty surfactant R&D for personal care, and biochemical research, serving as an essential synthetic material in chemical, pharmaceutical and nutrition industries.

Product information:

Product Name	Ammonium isethionate
Synonyms	2-hydroxy-ethanesulfonicaciammoniumsalt;2-hydroxy-ethanesulfonicacimonoammoniumsalt;ISETHIONICACIDAMMONIUMSALT;2-HYDROXYETHANESULFONICACID,AMMONIUMSALT;Ammonium2-hydroxyethanesulphonate;AMMONIUMISETHIONATE;AHES;Ammoniumisethionate~2-Hydroxyethanesulphonicacidammoniumsalt
CAS No.	57267-78-4
Molecular Formula	C2H9NO4S
Molecular Weight	143.16
Purity	≥ 99%
Appearance	Off-white to white powder

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What are the main applications of Ammonium isethionate (CAS 57267-78-4)?

A: 1. Core raw material for industrial synthesis of taurine. 2. Organic building block for pharmaceutical intermediates with sulfonate group. 3. Raw material for specialty hydroxyethanesulfonate surfactants. 4. Buffering reagent for biochemical laboratory research.

Q2: What is its most practical commercial application?

A: Its most mature commercial application is the industrial synthesis of taurine. Ammonium isethionate works as the starting material to produce taurine via ammonolysis. The resulting taurine is widely used in energy drinks, food additives, pet nutrition, health supplements and pharmaceutical preparations.

Q3: What is the function of Ammonium isethionate in taurine synthesis?

A: It acts as starting material providing hydroxyethanesulfonate functional group. It forms the molecular skeleton of taurine via ammonolysis reaction, serving as the key intermediate in this process route.

Q4: What advantages does it bring in taurine production compared with other routes?

It features stable raw material purity and fewer by-products, delivering high taurine yield. The reaction system is controllable, impurities are easier to separate, which is suitable for producing high-purity pharmaceutical-grade taurine.

Q5: What end products can be made from Ammonium isethionate?

A: Its primary downstream product is taurine, which is used in energy drinks, food additives, pet nutritional supplements, health supplements and pharmaceutical preparations. It can also derive mild specialty surfactants for personal care raw material development.

Q6: Is it directly added into final consumer products?

A: It is generally NOT added directly into consumer end products. It is used as synthetic intermediate and converted into taurine or other derivatives before being applied in end formulations.

Application Cases

Case 1: Industrial production of taurine.

Ammonium isethionate serves as the core starting material for mainstream industrial taurine production. Under alkaline catalysis and high-pressure ammonolysis conditions, it can be stably converted into high-purity taurine with fewer by-products and stable process reproducibility. The produced taurine is widely used in functional beverages, food fortifiers, infant formula additives, pet nutritional products and medical nutrition preparations, representing its most mature and largest commercial application.

Case 2: Synthesis of pharmaceutical intermediates.

As a high-quality sulfonate organic building block with stable molecular structure, this product is widely used to synthesize sulfonate-containing pharmaceutical intermediates. It is mainly applied in the production of anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective and metabolic-regulating drugs, effectively improving the water solubility and biocompatibility of target APIs. With low impurity and high structural purity, it meets strict feeding standards for fine pharmaceutical synthesis.

Case 3: R&D of high-end personal care raw materials.

It is used to develop a series of mild hydroxyethanesulfonate surfactants. Compared with traditional surfactants, its derivatives feature lower irritation, better skin compatibility and finer, more stable foam, which are ideal for sensitive-skin care products, baby care formulas and high-end amino acid cleansing systems. It is currently widely used in laboratory formula research and pilot-scale production for high-end daily chemical raw material development.

Case 4: Biochemical scientific research.

High-purity lab-grade ammonium isethionate can be used as a biochemical buffer component for enzyme activity detection, protein analysis and microbial culture experiments. It provides stable buffering performance with minimal impurity interference, maintains system acid-base balance, and ensures accurate and repeatable experimental results. It is widely adopted in fundamental research for universities, research institutes and biotechnology enterprises.

Safety and Storage

Safety: Not dangerous goods. Avoid dust inhalation, eye and skin contact. Wear protective gloves and goggles during operation. Do not mix with acids, acid salts and heavy metal salts.
Storage: Highly hygroscopic. Keep fully sealed and store in a cool, dry and ventilated place, keep away from light, heat and fire sources. Do not store together with oxidants, acids and heavy metal salts. Store properly to avoid moisture caking.
Shelf Life: 12 months under standard storage conditions.