Analysis of Furan and Its Derivatives in Food Matrices Using Solid Phase Extraction Coupled with Gas Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry

The objective of this study was to develop a simultaneous analysis method of furan and its 10 derivatives in different food commodities. The results indicated that furan and its 10 derivatives could be separated within 9.5 min by using a HP-5MS column and gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS) with multiple reaction monitoring mode for detection. Furthermore, this method could resolve several furan isomers, such as 2-methyl furan and 3-methyl furan, as well as 2,3-dimethyl furan and 2,5-dimethyl furan. The most optimal extraction conditions were: 5 g of the fruit or juice sample mixed with 5 mL of the saturated NaCl solution, separately, or 1 g of the canned oily fish sample mixed with 9 mL of the saturated NaCl solution, followed by the equilibration of each sample at 35 °C for 15 min, using a carboxen-polydimethylsiloxane SPME arrow to adsorb the analytes for 15 min at 35 °C for subsequent analysis by GC-MS/MS. For method validation of all the analytes in the different food matrices, the recovery was 76-117% and the limit of the quantitation was 0.003-0.675 ng/g, while the relative standard deviation (RSD%) of the intra-day variability range from 1-16%, and that of the inter-day variability was from 4-20%. The method validation data further demonstrated that a reliable method was established for the analysis of furan and its 10 derivatives in commercial foods.

Effect of sterilization conditions on the formation of furan and its derivatives in canned foods with different substrates

This study explored the effects of sterilization conditions on the formation of furan and its 10 derivatives in canned foods with a sterilizing value (F0) at 4. The contents of furans were determined by SPME arrow-GC-MS/MS, along with the furan precursors analyzed for elucidating the possible mechanism of furan formation. Results revealed that the total furan contents rose substantially in canned meat paste, tomato mackerel, chicken puree, tomato paste, pineapple slice, pineapple juice and carrot juice following sterilization. However, the total furan content did not change significantly ( p > 0.05) in canned oily mackerel, but decreased significantly ( p < 0.05) in canned apple puree after sterilization. With the exception of apple puree and pineapple slice, all the other canned foods showed a higher total furan content under low-temperature-long-time condition than that under high-temperature-short-time condition. Following heating, only the furan level showed a large increase in chicken puree, meat paste and tomato mackerel, whereas in canned fruit- and vegetable-based foods, the contents of furan and furfural showed a pronounced increase. The levels of alkylated furans were higher in sterilized samples containing high level of amino acid, while that of oxygenated furans were higher in sterilized samples containing high level of reducing sugar.