Influence of metal lone on hydroxymethylfurfural formation in honey

The effects of added magnesium, manganese, zinc and iron(II) ions on the production of hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) in honey were studied using a spectrophotometric method using p-toluidine and barbituric acid for the formation of a coloured complex. All the metal ions used significantly accelerated HMF formation in honey, especially at high temperatures, As the concentration of the added metal ions was increased, there was a corresponding increase in the amount of HMF formed, Manganese ions caused the highest increase in the level of HMF, followed by zinc, magnesiumn and iron (II) ions in that order.