furfural
Definition
Noun: 1. A colorless to yellowish, flammable liquid aldehyde with a characteristic almond-like odor: Furfural is an organic chemical compound derived from agricultural byproducts, primarily used as an industrial solvent and a starting material for other chemicals.
Usage and Examples
- As a chemical compound and industrial material:
- Furfural is produced by the acid hydrolysis of pentosan sugars found in oat hulls, corncobs, and other plant biomass.
- The distinctive odor of furfural is often described as similar to almonds or bread.
- This factory uses furfural as a selective solvent in petroleum refining.
Advanced Usage and Context
- Chemical Precursor: In industrial chemistry, furfural is a key renewable platform chemical. It serves as a primary feedstock for the production of furan and other derivatives like furfuryl alcohol, which are used to make resins, plastics, and pharmaceuticals.
- Solvent Properties: Due to its ability to selectively dissolve certain compounds, furfural is used in processes such as lubricant purification and the extraction of dienes from other hydrocarbons.
Variants and Related Words
- Furan (noun): A colorless, flammable, heterocyclic organic liquid (C₄H₄O) produced from furfural. It is used in the synthesis of various chemical products.
- Furfuryl alcohol (noun): A derivative of furfural (C₅H₆O₂), commonly used to make foundry sand binders and corrosion-resistant resins.
Synonyms and Related Terms
- 2-Furaldehyde: The systematic IUPAC name for furfural.
- Furfuraldehyde: An alternative chemical name.
- Industrial solvent: Describes one of its primary functions.
- Platform chemical: Describes its role as a renewable building block for other substances.
Noun
-
a liquid aldehyde with a penetrating odor; made from plant hulls and corncobs; used in making furan and as a solvent
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