furfural

1 9.9

A clear or yellow liquid that has a strong smell and is made from plants to dissolve other substances

noun
/ˈfɜrfjʊrəl/

Specialized

: furfural

Now, in a single reactor, the researchers can convert hemicellulose to furfural and cellulose to levulinic acid.

Examples

In the United States, approximately 300,000 tons of furfural each year are used as solvents and in adhesives and polymers.
Corncobs and oat hulls are major raw materials used to produce furfural.
Industrial processes often use furfural as a solvent for refining lubricating oils.
The strong, almond-like odor of furfural makes it distinctive in chemical laboratories.
The chemical furfural is used in various industrial applications.
Many researchers are studying furfural for its potential uses.
Companies like Avantium and Lignol were working with one member of that class, furfural.

Synonyms

furfuraldehyde

vsfurfural

Specialized

9.9

A clear or pale yellow liquid from plants with a strong smell used to make solvents and other chemicals

refers to the same aldehyde but names plant sources more generally

Surface Forms

furfural singular

furfurals plural

Morphology

furfural = furfur (opaque) = furfur + al

The word appears to be formed from the rare base 'furfur' plus the chemical suffix '-al', but the connection is not transparent to ordinary learners.

Etymology

Furfural comes from the Latin furfur, which means 'bran'. Chemists first made this liquid from 'bran' and other plant bits, so the name reminds us it comes from plant material. The ending -al marks it as a chemical, which is why the name fits a plant-based liquid used as a solvent.