Determination of Furfural (F) and Hydroxylmethyl Furfural (HMF) in Baby Formulas Obtained from Tehran Market Using Dispersive Liquid-liquid Microextraction (DLLME) Followed by High-performance Liquid Chromatography

Heat treatment during a baby formula production causes to production of F and HMF. The toxicity of these compounds in trace amount has been demonstrated. The purpose of this study is the identification and optimization of dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction followed by high-performance liquid chromatography as a sensitive and accurate method for the determining the trace amounts of F and HMF in baby formula samples. The effective parameters on the extraction of F and HMF were determined and optimized using response surface methodology. Central composite design was used for optimization. The figures of merit of the proposed method such as limit of detection, limit of quantification, repeatability, and linear rang were calculated. Extraction and determination of F and HMF in 22 samples taken from the drugstores in Tehran were carried out by the proposed method. Statistical method used in this study was a one-way ANOVA. The optimum amounts for effective parameters were determined. The figures of merit for the proposed method were at the ideal range. In the present study, the lowest and highest concentrations of F and HMF in baby formula samples were 0.18 and 20.77 µg g-1 and 0.24 and 167.16 µg g-1, respectively. The proposed method (DLLME) was compared with other previous methods, and its high capability and reliability were demonstrated in determination of furfural and hydroxylmethyl furfural at very low concentrations in baby formula samples.