Certified standards for furan and alkylfuran analysis

As regulatory and analytical requirements for furan and alkylfuran testing continue to advance, food testing laboratories need robust, traceable solutions that combine certified reference materials with reliable chromatography performance. High-quality GC columns and optimised methods are essential for accurate determination of these volatile compounds in complex food matrices.

Restek addresses this need with three multicomponent certified reference material (CRM) mixes, manufactured and QC-tested in ISO-accredited facilities. Together, the mixes include all native and isotopically labelled compounds specified in AOAC SMPR 2019.004 and Commission Recommendation (EU) 2022/495, supplied in three ready-to-use ampoules to simplify laboratory workflows.

The native furan and alkylfuran standard contains key target analytes including furan, 2- and 3-methylfuran, 2,5-dimethylfuran, 2-ethylfuran, 2-butylfuran, 2-pentylfuran and 2,3-dimethylfuran.

Complementing this, Labeled Furan/Alkylfurans Standard Mix 1 provides isotopically labelled internal standards including furan-d4 and methylfuran-d3 isomers, supporting accurate quantification through isotope dilution approaches.

Labelled Furan/Alkylfurans Standard Mix 2 extends coverage with heavier labelled analogues such as dimethylfuran-d6, ethylfuran-d5, butylfuran-d9 and pentylfuran-d11, enabling comprehensive method robustness across a range of analytical conditions.

By consolidating all required compounds into three pre-prepared ampoules, the solution reduces preparation complexity, minimises handling errors and improves laboratory efficiency. This streamlined approach also saves time and reduces operational costs, particularly in workflows relying on isotope dilution techniques.

With a high concentration of 100 µg/mL, the standards also offer flexibility for preparing customised working solutions, supporting both routine monitoring and method development applications.

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