noun
- Plural of guanin; a crystalline compound found in guano and other biological materials, used historically as a source of nitrogen for fertilizers and explosives.
Usage: chemistry; historical
Examples
- Guanins were extracted from guano deposits and processed into fertilizer.
- The chemist analyzed the guanins present in the bird droppings.
- Historically, guanins served as an important source of nitrogen compounds.
- Industrial production of guanins declined with the development of synthetic fertilizers.