Furfural
Organic compound derived from agricultural byproducts
| File:Furfural-2D-skeletal.png | |
| IUPAC Name: | {{{IUPACName}}} |
| Other Names: | |
| Identifiers | |
| CAS Number | |
| PubChem | |
| ChemSpider | |
| SMILES | |
| InChI | |
| InChIKey | |
| StdInChI | |
| StdInChIKey | |
| Properties | |
| Chemical formula | CHNO |
| Appearance | |
| Density | |
| Melting Point | |
| Boiling Point | |
| Solubility | |
| Hazards | |
| Main Hazards | |
| Flash Point | |
| Autoignition Temperature | |
Furfural is an organic compound derived from a variety of agricultural byproducts, including corncobs, oat, wheat bran, and sawdust. It is a colorless or yellow liquid with an almond-like odor. Furfural is an aldehyde of furan and is also known as 2-furaldehyde or 2-furancarboxaldehyde.
Production[edit | edit source]
Furfural is produced from hemicellulose, a major component of plant biomass. The production process involves the acid hydrolysis of hemicellulose to yield xylose, which is then dehydrated to form furfural. This process is typically carried out in the presence of a catalyst such as sulfuric acid.
Applications[edit | edit source]
Furfural is used in various industrial applications. It is a key ingredient in the production of furfuryl alcohol, which is used in the manufacture of resins and plastics. Furfural is also used as a solvent in the refining of lubricating oils and butadiene extraction. Additionally, it serves as a precursor to other furan derivatives and is used in the synthesis of pharmaceuticals and agrochemicals.
Chemical Properties[edit | edit source]
Furfural has the chemical formula C_5H_4O_2 and a molar mass of 96.09 g/mol. It has a density of 1.16 g/cm³ and a boiling point of 161.7°C. Furfural is slightly soluble in water but miscible with ethanol, ether, and acetone. It has a flash point of 60°C and an autoignition temperature of 393°C.
Safety[edit | edit source]
Furfural is considered to be moderately toxic. It can cause skin and eye irritation and may be harmful if ingested or inhaled. The LD50 (lethal dose for 50% of the population) for furfural is 65 mg/kg in rats. Proper safety measures, including the use of personal protective equipment (PPE), should be taken when handling furfural.
Related Pages[edit | edit source]
 | This article about an organic compound is a stub. You can help WikiMD by expanding it. |
Search WikiMD
Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound) available.
Advertise on WikiMD
|
WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia |
| Let Food Be Thy Medicine Medicine Thy Food - Hippocrates |
Translate this page: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
தமிழ்,
తెలుగు,
Urdu,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
বাংলা
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
Greek,
português do Brasil,
polski,
română,
русский,
Nederlands,
norsk,
svenska,
suomi,
Italian
Middle Eastern & African
عربى,
Turkish,
Persian,
Hebrew,
Afrikaans,
isiZulu,
Kiswahili,
Other
Bulgarian,
Hungarian,
Czech,
Swedish,
മലയാളം,
मराठी,
ਪੰਜਾਬੀ,
ગુજરાતી,
Portuguese,
Ukrainian
Medical Disclaimer: WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. The information on WikiMD is provided as an information resource only, may be incorrect, outdated or misleading, and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. Please consult your health care provider before making any healthcare decisions or for guidance about a specific medical condition. WikiMD expressly disclaims responsibility, and shall have no liability, for any damages, loss, injury, or liability whatsoever suffered as a result of your reliance on the information contained in this site. By visiting this site you agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, which may from time to time be changed or supplemented by WikiMD. If you do not agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, you should not enter or use this site. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.
Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD
