Analytical Sciences

Flow Injection Analysis of 5-(Hydroxymethyl)-2-furaldehyde in Honey by a Modified Winkler Method

Karine CASTOLDI, Maria Izabel MILANI, Eduardo L. ROSSINI, Leonardo PEZZA, and Helena R. PEZZA

Instituto de Química, Universidade Estadual Paulista “Julio de Mesquita Filho” (UNESP), R. Prof. Francisco Degni 55, PO Box 355, 14800-900, Araraquara, SP, Brazil

One of the quality indicators for honey is 5-(hydroxymethyl)-2-furaldehyde (HMF), which is formed during the heating or aging of honey. The International Honey Commission recommends three methods for the determination of HMF in honey: the Winkler method, the White method, and determination by HPLC. The Winkler method uses the carcinogenic substance p-toluidine, which is not in accordance with the principles of Green Chemistry. The present work describes the determination of HMF in honey by flow injection analysis (FIA) using a modified Winkler method, replacing p-toluidine with p-aminobenzoic acid. The linear range was 1.00 to 40.0 mg L⁻¹, the limit of detection (LOD) was 0.43 mg L⁻¹, and the limit of quantification (LOQ) was 1.32 mg L⁻¹. The method is an efficient and environmentally friendly technique for the analysis of HMF in honey.

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