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Furfural
Synonym(s)
CAS number: 98-01-1; Fural; furan-2-aldehyde; Furancarbonal, 2-formylfuran; Furfurol
DefinitionThis section has been translated automatically.
Furfural (from Latin furfur, bran), also known as furfurol, is a naturally occurring, colourless, liquid heterocyclic aldehyde compound with a caramel-like odour, which turns slightly brown when exposed to light and air and has the empirical formula: C5H4O2. Furfural is slightly soluble in ethanol and ether; soluble in water. Furfural occurs naturally as a constituent of essential oils e.g. in bran, corncobs, cloves and peanut shells.
Furfural is formed during the heating of carbohydrates from mono- and disaccharides via the corresponding 3-deoxypentoses and, together with substituted furfurals, is the main volatile product in caramelization.