Chemical properties of small diameter wild Leucaena Leucocephala species

Leucaena leucocephala commonly known as ‘petai belalang’ locally and well known as the ‘miracle tree’ and it has other variety of usage such as pulp and wood productions and reforestation. The main objectives of this study are to determine the chemical properties of small diameter wild Leucaena leucocephala species and to compare the chemical properties of Leucaena leucocephala species at three (3) different stem portions (bottom, middle and top) and two (2) different parts (bark and wood). The chemical properties, sampling and preparation of samples for these analyses were carried out according to the Technical Association of the Pulp and Paper Industry Standards (TAPPI). For chemical properties, Leucaena leucocephala wood and bark were analysed for extractives, holocellulose, on-cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin for each portion which are bottom, middle and top. Based on the results obtained, it shows that the extractives is the highest for top wood (1.41%) and top bark (4.11%). For the holocellulose, the middle wood (90.6l%) and bottom bark (73.l4%) are the highest. Meanwhile for on-cellulose, bottom wood (6l.l8%) and top bark (66.65%) showed the highest percentages. For the hemicellulose percentages, the middle wood (34.74%) and top bark (5.39%) obtained the highest percentages while lignin percentages are the highest for bottom wood (25.22%) and middle bark (l9.12%). This study unveiled the chemical properties of Leucaena leucocephala species and thus showing species can be used in paper production and reforestation.