The Degradation of Trimethylamine Oxide to Methylamines and Formaldehyde in Canned Shrimps

9 The Degradation of Trimethylamine Oxide to Methylamines and Formaklehyde in Canneil Shrimps by O. McLACHLAN” The conditions under which trimethylamine oxide breaks down to methyl- amines and fomaldehyde have been investigated with pa icular reference to samples of canned Norwegian sh mps. Published methods for the determination of di- and t methylamine have been modifled to increase sensitivity and repeatability. The off’ect of metals and metallic salts on the course of the decomposition has also been studied. The presence of formaldehyde and methylamines in canned shrimps has been discussed in other papers in this series. In the first paperl the existence of trimethylamine oxide in fish and crustacea and its breakdown into methyl- amines and formaldehyde was discussed.