Rapid method for the simultaneous determination of glucose and fructose using anthrone reagent

Rapid quantitative determination of carbohydrates is possible with the aid of Dreywood's anthrone reagent, but the reproducibility of the method was found to be unsatisfactory. Better results were obtained by modifying the method and standardising it accurately. The modifications mainly bore on the composition and preparation of the reagent. The exclusion of dust during the determination was found to be very important. Rapid simultaneous determination of glucose and fructose was possible by carrying out the reaction at 60° and 100°. An essential condition was that other carbohydrates and substances causing interference should be almost absent. Application to the determination of sugars in tomato and apple is described.