Furfural dosage

Furfural analysis is a benchmark test for assessing the quality, stability, and freshness of many natural and processed matrices. This aromatic aldehyde, a byproduct of sugar degradation, forms naturally during Maillard reactions or the thermal decomposition of pentoses. Its quantification allows for the identification of spoilage, the monitoring of processing methods, and the verification of the authenticity of plant-based products.

Furfural: a marker of degradation and authenticity

Furfural (CAS No. 98-01-1) is a key molecule for quality control of food products, natural extracts, flavorings, and solvents. It is characterized by a sweet, almond-like odor, but its excessive presence often indicates heating, oxidation, or spoilage of the product.

In honeys, alcoholic beverages, and juices, furfural results from aging, prolonged storage, or excessive heat treatment. Its detection allows for the differentiation of a fresh product from a spoiled one. In the cosmetics and fragrance industries, it is also used to characterize natural extracts, essential oils, and solvents derived from biomass.

Importance of furfural dosage

Quantifying furfural is essential for:

• to control the quality and freshness of food or cosmetic products,
• detect overheating during heat treatment or distillation,
• to evaluate the chemical stability of plant extracts and flavorings,
• to authenticate natural raw materials and identify adulterations,
• to monitor Maillard reactions in products containing sugars and amino acids.

This analysis provides a reliable indicator of the state of preservation, particularly useful in aging, formulation or validation controls of industrial processes.

Analytical methods used

The determination of furfural relies on high-precision chromatographic techniques adapted to the nature of the matrix:

• GC-FID (gas chromatography with flame ionization detection) : used for the quantification of furfural in aromatic extracts, solvents or volatile matrices.
• GC-MS (gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry) : allows specific identification and sensitive measurement of furfural, even in complex matrices.
• HPLC (high-performance liquid chromatography) : preferred for aqueous or sugar-rich matrices, such as honeys, juices, wines and syrups.

These techniques can be combined to obtain a complete analysis of the aromatic or thermal profile of the product. They are often carried out in conjunction with the determination of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) , a molecule closely related to furfural and also produced by sugar degradation reactions.

Sectors of application

Furfural dosage is applicable to many industrial sectors:

• Food processing : quality control of honey, syrups, juices, wines and spirits. Furfural is a recognized indicator of aging or excessive heat treatment.
• Cosmetics and perfumery : characterization of natural extracts, bio-based solvents or aromatic ingredients used in formulations.
• Flavors and natural ingredients industry : verification of the authenticity of vanilla, caramel or red fruit extracts, in addition to the dosage of furaneol , maltol or vanillin .
• Biomaterials and bio-based solvents : measurement of the purity of furfural as a chemical intermediate derived from lignocellulosic biomass.

These analyses can be integrated into a comprehensive quality control plan including formaldehyde determination or acrolein quantification, also available in the YesWeLab catalogue.

Carrying out analyses at YesWeLab

YesWeLab offers furfural testing through a network of partner laboratories specializing in chromatographic analyses. These laboratories have high-performance equipment (GC-FID, GC-MS, HPLC) and are mostly certified or accredited according to ISO 17025 and the COFRAC standard.

Our experts support manufacturers, formulators and producers in selecting the most suitable method for their product: choice of solvent, type of matrix, desired limit of detection or need for multi-analysis.

Thanks to the YesWeLab digital platform, you can centralize your requests, track your analyses in real time, and view your results online. Our scientific team provides personalized support at every stage of the process, guaranteeing data reliability and traceability.

Since 2020, numerous players in the food, cosmetics, fragrance, and chemical sectors have entrusted their samples to YesWeLab for the measurement of furfural and associated compounds. Our customized approach optimizes costs, turnaround times, and analytical accuracy, while meeting the regulatory and standards requirements of your products.

Technical data

• CAS No.: 98-01-1
• Available methods: GC-FID, GC-MS, HPLC
• Expertise: Physicochemical, nutritional
• Sectors concerned: Cosmetics, food, flavorings, bio-based solvents

For any specific request or characterization project, contact our team now to obtain a personalized quote and analytical advice tailored to your matrices.