An Enhanced Liquid Chromatographic Method For 5-Hydroxymethylfurfural Determination in UHT Milk

An enhanced method of HPLC for the determination of 5-Hydroxymethyl-2-furfuraldehyde (BMF) in fluid milk wasperfected. Its resolving capacity permitted the specificseparation of this compound. The real concentration(IJmol/l) of HMF was determined and not the HMF value, as in the colorimetric analysis, where an intermediarycoloured compound (HMF-TBA) is utilised. The optimum pH condition (pH = 4.0--4.2) forthe mobile phase to'preventoverlapping between the HMF peak and the peaks of theother compound (a and /3) that coeluted with the HMF andalso the optimum organic solvent content (3 % or 7 %)were established. This is a sensitive, quick and safe methodfor the determination of HMF in fluid milk.