Physicochemical Properties of Chitosan Extracted from Leucaena Leucocephala Pods Using Deprotenization and Decolorization Steps

Chitosan was extracted from Leucaena leucocephala (LL) pods collected from three locations in west coast Malaysia. The primary objectives of this study were to extract and characterized the extracted chitosan pectin from LL pods. Besides that, the physicochemical properties of extracted chitosan were determined and compared with the commercial chitosan. Chitosan A extracted from LL pods gave a higher percentage of yield compared to chitosan B, 70.9% and 67.6%, respectively. Besides that, the color analysis and whiteness index of both extracted chitosan were evaluated. From the data obtained, chitosan B has higher whiteness index, which is 61.6% and chitosan A was only 48.5%. Based on this study, it can be concluded that decolorization treatment with method B produced chitosan with a higher percentage of whiteness index compared to decolorization treatment with method A.