Automated headspace solid-phase microextraction versus headspace for the analysis of furan in foods by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry

A simple, fast and fully automated method based on headspace solid-phase microextraction coupled on-line with gas chromatography–ion trap mass spectrometry (HS-SPME–GC–ITMS) is proposed for furan determination in foods. The performance of the proposed method was compared to the automated headspace-GC–MS method, proposed by the US Food and Drugs Administration (US FDA), in terms of repeatability, limits of the detection and quantification. Both methods gave similar results for furan determination in selected food samples, although slightly worse precision (RSD%, 9–12%) and higher limits of detection (from 5 to 20 times higher) were obtained by the headspace method. In addition, higher sample throughput in routine furan analysis was obtained using the proposed HS-SPME–GC–ITMS method with isotope dilution than using the US FDA method, which recommends standard addition for quantification. The proposed method provides good precision (RSD% <10%) and low limits of detection, ranging from 0.02 to 0.12 ng g−1 depending on the sample. The developed HS-SPME–GC–MS method was used to analyse furan in several Spanish food commodities and concentrations ranging from 0.1 ng g−1 to 1.1 μg g−1 were found.