CATALYST FOR PREPARING HIGH PURITY TAURINE AND USE THEREOF

Abstract

Provided is a catalyst for preparing high-purity taurine, and the catalyst is N,N-disubstituted aminoethanesulfonic acid and has a structure represented by Formula I, in which R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are each independently selected from alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, alkoxy, benzyl, sulfydryl, thioether group, aryl, heteroaryl, amino, amide, imide, cyano, aldehyde group, carbonyl, carboxyl, sulfonic acid group, or ester group. Also provided is a method for preparing high-purity taurine, which adds the catalyst in an ammonolysis step for preparing taurine, thereby having effects of high yield, inhibition of impurity production and a reduced amount of ammonia used, etc. The catalyst has advantages of low cost, stable physical properties, and easy separation from the product. The preparation method is simple to operate with easily available raw materials and high yield, and can be employed for industrial production. Moreover, the purity of the prepared taurine can be up to 98% or higher.

##STR00001##

Claims

1. Use of a catalyst in preparation of taurine, wherein the catalyst has a structure represented by Formula I or a salt thereof: ##STR00018## wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are each independently selected from the group consisting of alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, alkoxy, sulfydryl, a thioether group, aryl, heteroaryl, amino, amide, imide, cyano, an aldehyde group, carbonyl, carboxyl, a sulfonic acid group, an ester group, and combinations thereof; and X is selected from H, a metal element of group IA, or a metal element of group IIA; the alkyl is a linear or branched saturated C1-C18 hydrocarbyl; the alkenyl is selected from linear or branched alkenyl groups containing at least one C═C double bond and 2 to 12 carbon atoms; the alkynyl is selected from linear or branched alkynyl groups containing at least one C≡C triple bond and 2 to 12 carbon atoms; the alkoxyl is selected from linear or branched C1-C6 alkoxy; the thioether group is selected from a methyl sulfide group, a dimethyl sulfide group, or an ethyl sulfide group; the aryl is selected from phenyl or substituted phenyl, wherein the substituted phenyl means that at least one hydrogen on a benzene ring is substituted by a substituent selected from hydrogen isotope, halogen, cyano, nitro, carboxyl, an ester group, unsubstituted methylthio, methylthio substituted with 1 to 3 fluorine atoms, C1-C8 alkyl, or C1-C8 alkoxyl; the heteroaryl is selected from a five- to seven-membered monocyclic aromatic ring containing at least one heteroatom or an eight- to twelve-membered bicyclic aromatic ring containing at least one heteroatom, wherein the at least one heteroatom is selected from N, O or S, and the rest are carbon; the amide is selected from amide substituted with a linear or branched C1-C18 alkyl; the imide is selected from imide substituted with linear or branched C1-C18 alkyl; the carbonyl is selected from alkoxycarbonyl; and the ester group is selected from an ester group substituted with a linear or branched C1-C18 alkyl, an aryl ester group, or a carboxylic ester group.

2. The use according to claim 1, wherein the alkyl is a linear or branched saturated C1-C12 hydrocarbyl; the alkenyl is selected from linear or branched alkenyl groups containing at least one C═C double bond and 2 to 8 carbon atoms; the alkynyl is selected from linear or branched alkynyl groups containing at least one C≡C triple bond and 2 to 8 carbon atoms; the alkoxyl is selected from methoxy, ethoxy, propoxy, or isopropoxy; the heteroaryl is selected from pyrrolyl, thienyl, indolyl, or benzofuranyl; the amide is selected from formamide or acetamide; the imide is selected from formalimide or acetylimide; and the carbonyl is selected from methoxycarbonyl, ethoxycarbonyl, propoxycarbonyl or butoxycarbonyl.

3. The use according to claim 2, wherein the alkyl is a linear or branched saturated C1-C6 hydrocarbyl; the alkenyl is selected from vinyl, propenyl, or isopropenyl; and the alkynyl is selected from ethynyl, propynyl, or butynyl.

4. The use according to claim 1, wherein the catalyst has a structure represented by any one of Formula II to Formulae V or a salt thereof: ##STR00019## wherein in the structure represented by Formula II, R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 are each independently selected from saturated or unsaturated C1-C20 alkyl, or saturated or unsaturated C1-C20 alkoxy; and X is selected from H, a metal element of group IA, or a metal element of group IIA; ##STR00020## wherein R.sup.5 and R.sup.6 are the same or different from each other, and are each independently selected from saturated or unsaturated C1-C18 alkyl; and X is selected from H, a metal element of group IA, or a metal element of group IIA; ##STR00021## wherein R.sup.7 is selected from hydrogen, saturated or unsaturated C1-C20 alkyl, or saturated or unsaturated C1-C20 alkoxyl; and X is selected from H, a metal element of group IA, or a metal element of group IIA; ##STR00022## wherein R.sup.8 is selected from hydrogen, or saturated or unsaturated C1-C18 alkyl; and X is selected from H, a metal element of group IA, or a metal element of group IIA.

5. The use according to claim 4, wherein in the structure represented by Formula II, R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 are the same or different from each other, and are each independently selected from saturated or unsaturated C1-C10 alkyl; in the structure represented by Formula III, R.sup.5 and R.sup.6 are the same or different from each other, and are each independently selected from saturated C1-C12 alkyl; in the structure represented by Formula IV, R.sup.7 is selected from hydrogen or saturated or unsaturated C1-C10 alkyl; and in the structure represented by Formula V, R.sup.8 is selected from saturated or unsaturated C1-C12 alkyl, and X is H.

6. The use according to claim 5, wherein R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 are both methyl; R.sup.5 and R.sup.6 are the same or different from each other, and are each independently selected from saturated C8-C12 alkyl; R.sup.7 is hydrogen or methyl; and R.sup.8 is methyl, ethyl or dodecyl.

7. The use according to claim 4, wherein the salt is a sodium salt.

8. The use according to claim 7, wherein the salt is sodium N,N-dialkyl-2-aminoethanesulfonate, a sodium salt of N-(substituted benzyl)amino-N,N-bis(2-ethanesulfonic acid), or a sodium salt of N-alkylamino-N,N-bis(2-ethanesulfonic acid).

9. The use according to claim 4, wherein the catalyst is any one selected from the following structures: ##STR00023## or N-dodecylamino-N,N-bis(2-ethanesulfonic acid).

10. A method for preparing high-purity taurine, comprising using a catalyst having a structure represented by Formula I or a salt thereof in an ammonolysis process of the method, ##STR00024## wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are each independently selected from the group consisting of alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, alkoxy, sulfydryl, a thioether group, aryl, heteroaryl, amino, amide, imide, cyano, an aldehyde group, carbonyl, carboxyl, a sulfonic acid group, an ester group, and combinations thereof; and X is selected from H, a metal element of group IA, or a metal element of group IIA; the alkyl is a linear or branched saturated C1-C18 hydrocarbyl; the alkenyl is selected from linear or branched alkenyl groups containing at least one C═C double bond and 2 to 12 carbon atoms; the alkynyl is selected from linear or branched alkynyl groups containing at least one C≡C triple bond and 2 to 12 carbon atoms; the alkoxyl is selected from linear or branched C1-C6 alkoxy; the thioether group is selected from a methyl sulfide group, a dimethyl sulfide group, or an ethyl sulfide group; the aryl is selected from phenyl or substituted phenyl, wherein the substituted phenyl means that at least one hydrogen on a benzene ring is substituted by a substituent selected from hydrogen isotope, halogen, cyano, nitro, carboxyl, an ester group, unsubstituted methylthio, methylthio substituted with 1 to 3 fluorine atoms, C1-C8 alkyl, or C1-C8 alkoxyl; the heteroaryl is selected from a five- to seven-membered monocyclic aromatic ring containing at least one heteroatom or an eight- to twelve-membered bicyclic aromatic ring containing at least one heteroatom, wherein the at least one heteroatom is selected from N, O or S, and the rest are carbon; the amide is selected from amide substituted with a linear or branched C1-C18 alkyl; the imide is selected from imide substituted with linear or branched C1-C18 alkyl; the carbonyl is selected from alkoxycarbonyl; and the ester group is selected from an ester group substituted with a linear or branched C1-C18 alkyl, an aryl ester group, or a carboxylic ester group.

11. The method according to claim 10, comprising: step S1 of performing a hydroxylation reaction of ethylene oxide and sodium bisulfite to produce sodium isethionate; step S2 of performing ammonolysis of the sodium isethionate under effect of one or more catalysts represented by Formula I; and step S3 of neutralizing a product of the ammonolysis to obtain the high-purity taurine.

12. The method according to claim 11, comprising: step S1 of reacting ethylene oxide with a sodium bisulfite solution to produce sodium isethionate; step S2 of mixing the sodium isethionate obtained in step S1 with ammonia, adding the one or more catalysts to obtain a reaction solution, performing an ammonolysis reaction at high temperature and high pressure, discharging a large amount of excess ammonia from the reaction solution through flash evaporation after the ammonolysis reaction is completed, then discharging the remaining ammonia and excess water through evaporation, and recycling the ammonia discharged through the flash evaporation and the evaporation as a raw material for the ammonolysis reaction; step S3 of acidifying a reaction solution obtained after the evaporation in step S2 through direct acidification, ion exchange or electrolysis/electroosmosis to replace sodium ions in molecules of sodium taurinate with hydrogen ions; and separating the taurine from the unreacted sodium isethionate and the one or more catalysts through solid-liquid separation to obtain a solid product of the taurine.

13. The method according to claim 11, wherein a molar ratio of the one or more catalysts to the sodium isethionate ranges from 0.1% to 15%.

14. The method according to claim 12, wherein a molar ratio of the one or more catalysts to the sodium isethionate ranges from 0.1% to 15%.

15. The method according to claim 11, wherein a molar ratio of the ammonia to the sodium isethionate ranges from 0.1: 1 to 50:1; and/or the ammonia is provided in a form of ammonia water at a concentration ranging from 20% to 35%; and/or the ammonolysis reaction continues for 0.1 h to 40 h.

16. The method according to claim 12, wherein a molar ratio of the ammonia to the sodium isethionate ranges from 0.1: 1 to 50:1; and/or the ammonia is provided in a form of ammonia water at a concentration ranging from 20% to 35%; and/or the ammonolysis reaction continues for 0.1 h to 40 h.

17. The method according to claim 15, wherein a molar ratio of the ammonia to the sodium isethionate ranges from 6: 1 to 8:1; and/or the ammonia is provided in a form of ammonia water at a concentration ranging from 25% to 35%; and/or the ammonolysis reaction continues for 1.5 h to 2 h.

18. The method according to claim 16, wherein a molar ratio of the ammonia to the sodium isethionate ranges from 6: 1 to 8:1; and/or the ammonia is provided in a form of ammonia water at a concentration ranging from 25% to 35%; and/or the ammonolysis reaction continues for 1.5 h to 2 h.

19. The method according to claim 12, wherein an acid used in the direct acidification comprises organic acids, inorganic acids, acidic gases, and acidic polymer compounds; the acidifying through ion exchange comprises cation exchange, anion exchange, and combined anion and cation exchange; and the acidifying through the electrolysis/electroosmotic comprises direct electrolysis, electrodialysis, and bipolar membrane electrodialysis.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0065] FIG. 1 is a flow diagram of a process for preparing taurine.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0066] The following examples are for the purpose of illustrating the present disclosure, rather than limiting the scope of the present disclosure.

Example 1: Preparation of Catalyst N,N-dibenzylamino-2-ethanesulfonic Acid

[0067] This example provides a catalyst (N,N-dibenzylamino-2-ethanesulfonic acid) for preparing taurine, and the catalyst is obtained through the following method.

[0068] Taurine (0.5 mol, 62.58 g), sodium hydroxide (0.125 mol, 5 g), and benzyl alcohol (3 mol, 324.18 g) were sealed in an autoclave (1 L), heated to 220° C. to react for 2 hours, and then cooled naturally for 3 hours or more; the reaction solution was neutralized with concentrated sulfuric acid and then acidified to neutrality, to precipitate N,N-dibenzylamino-2-ethanesulfonic acid, which was filtered and dried, with a yield of 80%. .sup.1H NMR (DMSO-d.sub.6) δ: 2.01 (brs, 1H), 2.92 (m, 2H), 3.51 (m, 2H), 3.62 (m, 4H), 7.06-7.14 (m, 10H) ppm.

[0069] The reaction equation is as below:

##STR00013##

Example 2: Preparation of Catalyst N-benzylamino-N,N-bis(2-ethanesulfonic acid)

[0070] This example provides a catalyst (N-benzylamino-N,N-bis(2-ethanesulfonic acid)) for preparing taurine, and the catalyst is obtained through the following method.

[0071] Benzylamine (0.5 mol, 53.58 mg), sodium hydroxide (0.125 mol, 5 g), and sodium isethionate (3 mol, 444.33 mg) were sealed in an autoclave (1 L), heated to 220° C. to react for 2 hours, and then cooled naturally for 3 hours or more; the reaction solution was neutralized with concentrated sulfuric acid and then acidified to pH 2-3, to precipitate N-benzylamino-N,N-bis(2-ethanesulfonic acid), which was filtered and dried, with a yield of 80%. .sup.1H NMR (DMSO-d.sub.6)δ: 2.0 (brs, 2H), 2.92 (m, 4H), 3.35 (m, 4H), 3.62 (m, 2H), 7.06-7.14 (m, 5H).

[0072] The reaction equation is as below:

##STR00014##

Example 3: Results of Ammonolysis Reaction at Different Times Using N,N-didodecyl-2-aminoethanesulfonic Acid as a Catalyst

[0073] This experimental example investigated the influence of the addition of N,N-didodecyl-2-aminoethanesulfonic acid as a catalyst on the ammonolysis reaction at different times. The experimental example was specifically performed as below. Sodium isethionate (0.5 mol, 74.06 g) was dissolved in 200 ml of 30% ammonia water, sodium hydroxide (0.125 mol, 5 g) and N,N-didodecyl-2-aminoethanesulfonic acid (0.05 mol, 23.09 g) were added, and the mixture was sealed in an autoclave (1 L) and heated to 220° C. After reacting for different times, cold water was introduced to terminate the reaction, and the reaction solution was directly analyzed to determine the contents of respective components. The results are shown in Table 1.

[0074] The reaction equation is as below:

##STR00015##

TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Influence of reaction time on the product of ammonolysis after the addition of N,N-didodecyl-2-aminoethanesulfonic acid as a catalyst (a molar ratio of ammonia to sodium isethionate was 8) Percentages of substances in product Reaction time Sodium Sodium Sodium No. (min) isethionate taurinate ditaurinate 1 0 100 0 0 2 30 63 47 0 3 60 42 58 0 4 90 9 91 0 5 120 5 95 0 6 150 4 95 1

Example 4: Results at Different Amounts of Ammonia when Using N,N-didodecyl-2-aminoethanesulfonic Acid as a Catalyst

[0075] This experimental example investigates the influence of different amounts of ammonia used on the ammonolysis reaction after the addition of N,N-didodecyl-2-aminoethanesulfonic acid as the catalyst. The experimental example was specifically performed as below. Sodium isethionate (0.5 mol, 74.06 g) was dissolved in different amounts of 30% ammonia water, sodium hydroxide (0.125 mol, 5 g) and N,N-didodecyl-2-aminoethanesulfonic acid (0.05 mol, 23.09 g) were added, and the mixture was sealed in an autoclave (1 L) and heated to 220° C. After reacting for 2 hours, cold water was introduced to terminate the reaction, and the reaction solution was directly analyzed to determine the contents of respective components. The results are shown in Table 2.

TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 2 Influence of the amount of ammonia used on the product of ammonolysis after the addition of N,N-didodecyl-2-aminoethanesulfonic acid as a catalyst (reaction time was 2 hours) Ammonia/sodium Percentages of substances in product isethionate Sodium Sodium Sodium No. (molar ratio) isethionate taurinate ditaurinate 7 0.1 73 2 5 8 0.5 49 38 9 9 1 37 53 7 10 5 10 87 2 11 8 5 95 0 12 10 2 98 0 13 15 1 99 0 14 20 0 100 0

Example 5: Results of the Ammonolysis Reaction at Different Reaction Times When Using N,N-dibenzyl-2-aminoethanesulfonic Acid as a Catalyst

[0076] This experimental example investigated the influence of the addition of N,N-dibenzyl-2-aminoethanesulfonic acid as the catalyst on the ammonolysis reaction at different times. The experimental example was specifically performed as below. Sodium isethionate (0.5 mol, 74.06 g) was dissolved in 200 ml of 30% ammonia water, sodium hydroxide (0.125 mol, 5 g) and N,N-dibenzyl-2-aminoethanesulfonic acid (0.05 mol, 15.26 g) were added, and the mixture was sealed in an autoclave (1 L) and heated to 220° C. After reacting for different times, cold water was introduced to terminate the reaction, and the reaction solution was directly analyzed to determine the contents of respective components. The results are shown in Table 3.

TABLE-US-00003 TABLE 3 Influence of a change of the reaction time on the product of ammonolysis after the addition of N,N-dibenzyl-2-aminoethanesulfonic acid as a catalyst (a molar ratio of ammonia to sodium isethionate was 8) Percentages of substances in reaction solution Reaction time Sodium Sodium Sodium No. (mm) isethionate taurinate ditaurinate 1 0 100 0 0 2 30 57 43 0 3 60 46 54 0 4 90 9 91 0 5 120 2 98 0 6 150 0 98 2

Example 6: Results of the Ammonolysis Reaction with Different Proportions of Ammonia when Using N,N-dibenzyl-2-aminoethanesulfonic Acid as a Catalyst

[0077] This experimental example investigated the influence of different molar ratios of ammonia to sodium isethionate on the ammonolysis reaction after the addition of N,N-dibenzyl-2-aminoethanesulfonic acid as the catalyst. The experimental example was specifically performed as below. Sodium isethionate (0.5mol, 74.06 g) was dissolved in different amounts of 30% ammonia water, sodium hydroxide (0.125 mol, 5 g) and N,N-dibenzyl-2-aminoethanesulfonic acid (0.05 mol, 15.26 g) were added, and the mixture was sealed in an autoclave (1 L) and heated to 220° C. After reacting for 2 hours, cold water was introduced to terminate the reaction, and the reaction solution was directly analyzed to determine the contents of the various components. The results are shown in Table 4.

TABLE-US-00004 TABLE 4 Influence of a change of the molar ratio of ammonia to sodium isethionate on the product of ammonolysis after the addition of N,N-dibenzyl-2-aminoethanesulfonic acid as a catalyst (reaction time was 2 hours) Ammonia/sodium Percentages of substances in reaction solution isethionate Sodium Sodium Sodium No. (molar ratio) isethionate taurinate ditaurinate 1 0.1 73 5 2 2 0.5 47 38 11 3 1 35 53 12 4 5 10 87 3 5 8 2 98 0 6 10 1 99 0 7 15 0 100 0 8 20 0 100 0

[0078] In connection with the data in Table 3 and Table 4, it can be known that when N,N-dibenzyl-2-aminoethanesulfonic acid is used as the catalyst, the most suitable conditions for the ammonolysis reaction of industrial production are as follows: the molar ratio of ammonia to sodium isethionate is controlled to be 8, and the reaction time is 2 hours, so that the high-purity taurine can be obtained with the highest efficiency.

Example 7: Results of the Ammonolysis reaction at Different Reaction Times When Using N-benzylamino-N,N-bis(2-ethanesulfonic acid) as a Catalyst

[0079] This experimental example investigated the influence of the addition of N-benzylamino-N,N-bis(2-ethanesulfonic acid) as the catalyst on the ammonolysis reaction at different times. The experimental example was specifically performed as below. Sodium isethionate (0.5 mol, 74.06 g) was dissolved in 200 ml of 30% ammonia water, sodium hydroxide (0.125 mol, 5 g) and N-benzylamino-N,N-bis(2-ethanesulfonic acid) (0.05 mol, 16.18 g) were added, and the mixture was sealed in an autoclave (1 L) and heated to 220° C. After reacting for different times, cold water was introduced to terminate the reaction, and the reaction solution was directly analyzed to determine the contents of various components. The results are shown in Table 5.

TABLE-US-00005 TABLE 5 Influence of a change of the reaction time on the product of ammonolysis after the addition of N-benzylamino-N,N-bis(2-ethanesulfonic acid) as a catalyst Percentages of substances in reaction solution Reaction time Sodium Sodium Sodium No. (mm) isethionate taurinate ditaurinate 1 0 100 0 0 2 30 56 44 0 3 60 47 53 0 4 90 10 90 0 5 120 2 98 0 6 150 0 98 2

Example 8: Results of the Ammonolysis Reaction with Different Proportions of Ammonia When Using N-benzylamino-N,N-bis(2-ethanesulfonic acid) as a Catalyst

[0080] This experimental example investigates the influence of different amounts of ammonia used on the ammonolysis reaction after the addition of N-benzylamino-N,N-bis(2-ethanesulfonic acid) as the catalyst. The experimental example was specifically performed as below. Sodium isethionate (0.5 mol, 74.06 g) was dissolved in different amounts of 30% ammonia water, sodium hydroxide (0.125 mol, 5 g) and N-benzylamino-N,N-bis(2-ethanesulfonic acid) (0.05 mol, 16.18 g) were added, and the mixture was sealed in an autoclave (1 L) and heated to 220° C. After reacting for 2 hours, cold water was introduced to terminate the reaction, and the reaction solution was directly analyzed to determine the contents of various components. The results are shown in Table 6.

TABLE-US-00006 TABLE 6 Influence of a change of the molar ratio of ammonia to sodium isethionate on the product of ammonolysis after the addition of N-benzylamino-N,N-bis(2-ethanesulfonic acid) as a catalyst (reaction time was 2 hours) Ammonia/sodium Percentages of substances in reaction solution isethionate Sodium Sodium Sodium No. (molar ratio) isethionate taurinate ditaurinate 1 0.1 73 2 5 2 0.5 47 38 15 3 1 35 53 12 4 5 10 87 3 5 8 2 98 0 6 10 1 99 0 7 15 0 100 0 8 20 0 100 0

[0081] Based on the above examples, it can be seen that a conversion rate of sodium isethionate can reach 98% when the reaction time is 2 hours and the molar ratio of ammonia to sodium isethionate was 8; and the conversion rate can be enhanced to 99% or higher when the proportion of ammonia was further increased. Accordingly, upon taking cost and efficiency into consideration, it is believed that the optimal reaction time is 2 hours, and the optimal molar ratio of ammonia to sodium isethionate is 8.

Example 9: Catalysis Results Under Optimal Conditions When Using N-methylamino-N,N-bis(2-ethanesulfonic acid) as a Catalyst

[0082] Sodium isethionate (0.5 mol, 74.06 g) was dissolved in 200 ml of 30% ammonia water, sodium hydroxide (0.125 mol, 5 g) and N-methylamino-N,N-bis(2-ethanesulfonic acid) (0.05 mol, 12.35 g) were added, and the mixture was sealed in an autoclave (1 L) and heated to 220° C. After reacting for 2 h, cold water was introduced to terminate the reaction, and the excess ammonia was removed. The percentages of substances in the reaction system were detected, the content of sodium taurinate was 96%, and the content of sodium isethionate was 4%.

Example 10: Catalysis Results Under Optimal Conditions When Using Sodium N-methyl ditaurinate

[0083] ##STR00016##

as a Catalyst

[0084] Sodium isethionate (0.5 mol, 74.06 g) was dissolved in 200 ml of 30% ammonia water, sodium hydroxide (0.125 mol, 5 g) and sodium N-methyl ditaurinate (0.05 mol, 14.55 g) were added, and the mixture was sealed in an autoclave (1 L) and heated to 220° C. After reacting for 2 h, cold water was introduced to terminate the reaction, and the excess ammonia was removed. The percentages of substances in the reaction system were detected, the content of sodium taurinate was 95%, and the content of sodium isethionate was 5%.

[0085] Although the present disclosure is described in detail with the above generic description and specific examples, modifications and improvements that are apparent to those skilled in the art that can be made based on the present disclosure. Thus, these modifications and improvements made without departing from the spirit of the present disclosure shall fall within the protection scope of the present disclosure.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

[0086] The present disclosure provides a catalyst for preparing high-purity taurine, and the catalyst is N,N-disubstituted aminoethanesulfonic acid and has a structure represented by Formula I. In the Formula I, R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are each independently selected from alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, alkoxy, benzyl, sulfydryl, a thioether group, aryl, substituted aryl, heteroaryl, substituted heteroaryl, amino, amide, imide, cyano, an aldehyde group, carbonyl, carboxyl, a sulfonic acid group, a substituted sulfonic acid group, or an ester group. The present disclosure also provides a method for preparing high-purity taurine, which adds the catalyst according to the present disclosure in an ammonolysis step for preparing the taurine, thereby having the effects of high yield, inhibition of impurity production and a reduced amount of ammonia used, etc. The catalyst has the advantages of low cost, stable physical properties, and easy separation from the product. The preparation method according to the present disclosure is simple to operate with easily available raw materials and high yield, and thus can be employed for industrial production. Moreover, the purity of the prepared taurine can be up to 98% or higher, thereby providing better economic value and application prospects.

##STR00017##