Analysis of HMF and furfural in hydrolyzed lignocellulosic biomass by HPLC-DAD-based method using FDCA as internal standard

HMF (hydroxymethylfurfural), a compound that occurs naturally in food, is derived from the dehydration of monosaccharides (glucose and fructose) in products subjected to high-temperature treatments or to aging processes. HMF can be obtained by acid-catalyzed dehydration of lignocellulosic biomasses such as sugarcane bagasse and other agricultural residues. In this work, analytical quantification of HMF and furfural (the main co-product) was performed using high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with diode array detection (HPLC-DAD). The official method employs isocratic elution with a mobile phase composed of water and acetonitrile at a ratio of 80:20 (v/v). The analytical method proposed here was developed using 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA) as internal standard, for the first time, with 0.01 mol L(−1) • The proposed HPLC method improves peak selectivity and resolution. • The method is suitable for acid sample media, such as aqueous and organic hydrolysis phases. • 2,5-Furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA) was used as internal standard.