High-performance liquid chromatographic determination of methyl anthranilate, hydroxymethylfurfural and related compounds in honey

A high-performance liquid chromatographic method for determining 5-hydroxym ethyl-2-furaldehyde (hydroxy-methylfurfural), 2-furaldehyde (furfural), fur an-2-carboxylic acid (2-furoic acid), furan-3-carboxylic acid (3-furoic aci d), furan-3-carboxaldehyde (3-furaldehyde) and 2-aminobenzoic acid methyl e ster (methyl anthranilate) in honey and honeydew samples is described. To p revent matrix interference and to isolate the compounds, a clean-up step wh ich implies a solid-phase extraction on polymeric cartridges and an elution with 0.5 mi methanol is recommended. The compounds are separated on a reve rsed-phase column with a gradient of (A) 1% aqueous acetic acid-acetonitril e (97:3, v/v) and (B) acetonitrile-water (50:50, v/v), with UV detection at 250 nm. The method is applied to the analysis of samples from different bo tanical origin. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.