Reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic method for the quantification of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural as the major degradation product of glucose in infusion fluids.

Analysis of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (5-HMF) is an important indicator of degradation in glucose infusion fluids. Current pharmacopoeial methods for analysis are insensitive and non-specific. A method is described here, incorporating an internal standard, to give a sensitive, accurate and precise method, suitable for use in the quality control of glucose infusion fluids, and with possible applications for the quantitative determination of 5-HMF in food and drink, bacterial cultures and hydrothermolysed wood.