Determination of free furfuryl alcohol in foundry resins by chromatographic techniques

Two chromatographic methods, gas chromatography with flow ionization detection (GC-FID) and liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection (LC-UV), were used to determine furfuryl alcohol in several kinds of foundry resins, after application of an optimised extraction procedure. The GC method developed gave feasibility that did not depend on resin kind. Analysis by LC was suitable just for furanic resins. The presence of interference in the phenolic resins did not allow an appropriate quantification by LC. Both methods gave accurate and precise results. Recoveries were >94%; relative standard deviations were ≤7 and ≤0.3%, respectively for GC and LC methods. Good relative deviations between the two methods were found (≤3%).