New analysis method of furfural obtained from wood applying an autohydrolysis pretreatment

Two gas chromatography extraction methods based on liquid-liquid (LLE) and headspace solid phase microextraction (HS-SPME) were evaluated for analysis of furfural from hemicellulose hydrolysates. Woody biomass was used as renewable resource for furfural production. In this study, autohydrolysis pretreatment was investigated for conversion of xylose and arabinose into furfural at selected ranges of temperatures (180-200°C) and time (5-15 min). The autohydrolysis pretreatment performed at temperature of 200°C and 15 min gives the high furfural content. The maximum pentose and hexose concentration was obtained at 190°C for 10 min reaction time. The results show that the HS-SPME extraction provides better results comparatively with LLE extraction method: no chemicals use; good recovery (95%); relative standard deviation (RSD) value is 7%, showing a good precision of the method; lower detection limits (0.03 μg ml); all these showing that the method can be applied for determination of furfural from wood hydrolysates.