However, significant changes in furan concentration were
observed with metal ions. In a sample of model I with 0.1 M metal
ions, except for iron sulphate, the concentration of furan decreased
11.42 ± 4.16 ng/ml with magnesium sulphate, 6.75 ± 1.47 ng/ml
with zinc sulphate, and 8.27 ± 0.06 ng/ml with calcium sulphate,
respectively. In contrast, furan increased to 455.13 ± 5.65 ng/ml
with iron sulphate. In the case of 0.1 M antioxidants added to
model I, furan decreased 8.43 ± 2.96 ng/ml and 12.87 ± 4.35 ng/ml
with BHT and BHA, respectively. Adding sodium sulphite revealed
the lowest amount of furan formed at 6.80 ± 0.55 ng/ml. Except for
iron sulphate, the formation of furan decreased by 18–51%. The
reduction of furan formation was 18% with zinc sulphate, 40% with
calcium sulphate, 39% with BHT, and 8% with BHA. A significant
decrease in furan formation was observed with sodium sulphite
and magnesium sulphate (51% decrease), and then it increased in
a sample with iron sulphate (3,164% increase). The reduction
of furan formation occurred in the order: magnesium
sulphate = sodium sulphite > calcium sulphate > BHT > zinc
sulphate > BHA. Thus, these results suggest that metal ions (except
for iron sulphate), antioxidants, and sodium sulphite can reduce
furan formation in an ascorbic acid model system.