General Description

Furan One of a class of heterocyclic aromatic compounds characterized by five-membered ring structure consisting of four CH₂ groups and one oxygen atom. The simplest furan compound is furan itself; a clear, volatile  and mildly toxic liquid; melts at -86 C, boils at 32 C, insoluble in water, soluble in alcohol and ether. In the absence of inhibitors, it may form peroxides and and accumulate peroxides which may explode when subjected to heat or shock. It may discolor on exposure to air.


This material is hazardous when peroxide levels are concentrated by distillation or evaporation. It can be stabilized with BHT. It can be obtained from wood oils. It is used as a solvent as well as in the synthesis of furfural and other organic compounds. It is converted to more important solvent, tetrahydrofuran by hydrogenation. Niitro-substituted furan derivatives are used as biocides or fungicides to inhibit bacterial growth. Sulfur-substituted furan derivatives are used as flavouring agents.

Aplication

Solvent for refining of lubricating oils, butadiene, rosin, and other chemicals; solvent for nitrocellulose, cellulose acetate, shoe dyes; intermediate for phenolic and furan resins, furfuryl alcohol and tetrahydrofuran; weed killer; fungicide; adipic acid and adiponitrile; production of lysine; refining of rare earth; flavoring.

Uses

Furfural is used as a solvent in petrochemical refining to extract dienes (which are used to make synthetic rubber) from other hydrocarbons. Furfural, as well as its derivative furfuryl alcohol, can be used either by themselves or in together with phenol, acetone, or urea to make solid resins. Such resins are used in making fiberglass, some aircraft components, and automotive brakes.
Furfural is also used as a chemical intermediate in the production of the solvents furan and tetrahydrofuran. Hydroxymethylfurfural has been identified in a wide variety of heat processed foods.