ASTM D 5837-15 method covers the determination in electrical insulating liquids of products of the degradation of cellulosic materials such as paper, pressboard, and cotton materials typically found as insulating materials in electrical equipment. These degradation products are substituted furan derivatives, commonly referred to as furanic compounds or furans. This test method allows either liquid/liquid or solid phase extraction (SPE) of the furanic compounds from the sample matrix followed by analysis for specific furanic compounds by HPLC or direct injection for analysis of specific furanic compounds by HPLC.
The individual furanic compounds that may be identified and quantified include the following: 5-hydroxymethyl-2-furaldehyde, furfuryl alcohol, 2-furaldehyde, 2-acetylfuran, 5-methyl-2-furaldehyde
Insulation oil is a material that is utilized for insulation and cooling of electrical equipment and is widely used in transformers, condensers, and other devices. The concentration of furanic compounds such as furfural in insulation oil is known as an indicator of transformer deterioration. This article introduces a quantitative analysis of furanic compounds in four types of transformer insulation oil using a Shimadzu Prominence™-i integrated LC system, which was conducted in accordance with the furanic compound analysis method provided in ASTM D 5837-15 (1) after the oil samples were subjected to an accelerated deterioration test.
Analytical Conditions

• Column : Shim-pack™ VP-ODS (250 × 4.6 mm I.D., 5 μm) *1
• Mobile phase : A: water B: acetonitrile
• Time program : B conc. 20% (0-10 min)  ® 100% (10.01-20 min) ®20% (20.01-40 min)
• Flow rate : 1 mL/min
• Column temp. : 40 °C
• Injection vol. : 15 μL
• Detection : PDA 220 nm, 280 nm
• Vial : TORAST-H Glass Vial *2