Current sample preparation strategies for the chromatographic and mass spectrometric determination of furfural compounds

Furfural compounds, formed during food storage and processing, are widely existed in food samples. Formation of furfural compounds may affect the safety and quality of foods. Thus, many countries and organizations have issued policies to limit the maximum content of furfural compounds. Therefore, it is necessary to develop analytical methods to monitor the concentration of furfural compounds in foods. However, the direct instrumental analysis of furfural compounds in foods is a continuous challenge, mainly because of complex samples and large amounts of co-existing interfering substances. Therefore, appropriate sample preparation methods, such as derivatization, liquid-liquid extraction, solid-phase extraction, solid-phase microextraction, and Quick, Easy, Cheap, Effective, Rugged, and Safe (QuEChERS), should be selected to remove the interferences and enrich target analytes before detection. The combination of effective sample preparation methods and appropriate instrument detection techniques is the key to determining the analysis efficiency and the result accuracy. To the best of our knowledge, there have been no review articles focused on sample preparation methods for the detection of furfural compounds in foods. Thus, this review aims to summarize the latest progress in sample preparation methods for furfural compound analysis in foods from 2012 to 2022. Their advantages and limitations are also discussed. The current review will help researchers choose suitable sample pretreatment and detection methods.