Since the carbohydrate profile of sunflower kernels consists
mainly from hexose derivatives (glucose, sucrose, cellulose etc.)
(Grompone, 2011) we can assume that after dehydration of the
sugars mostly 5-hydroxymethyl furfural (5-HMF) is formed
(Hayes, Fitzpatrick, Hayes, & Ross, 2008). Afterwards, further dehydration
of formed 5-HMF is possible in a second step, which produces
levulinic acid and formic acid. Due to the fact that at
130 C and 160 C the content of carbohydrates in extracts
decreases with te it can be assumed that 5-HMF has been further
degraded to organic acids.