Comparison of Chemical Compositions between Two Fast Growing Species: Acacia mangium and Leucaena leucochephala

Abstract

Acacia mangium and Leuceana leucocephala are both exotic species known to be planted in Malaysia. Both species are well known to possess high growth rate, therefore made as reforestation species as well as a popular resource for pulp and paper industry. The main objectives of this study are to determine the chemical compositions of small diameter wild Acacia mangium and Leucaena leucocephala species and to compare that properties between of them at three (3) different stem portions (bottom, middle and top) and two (2) different parts (bark and wood). All analyses were done according to TAPPI standard method, except hemicellulose (Wise et al.) and holocellulose (formula). All the data and results were statistically analyzed using ANOVA and Tukey's Post Hoc test. Results revealed alcohol-toluene solubles was highest in bottom portion of Acacia mangium bark (14.98%). Holocellulose can be found highest in middle portion of Leuceana leucocephala wood (90.61%). For α-cellulose, highest was in Leuceana leucocephala bark (69.36%). Hemicellulose was most abundant in Acacia mangium top portion of wood (36.14%), while highest lignin was in its bottom portion of bark (31.18%). ANOVA indicates there are statistically high significance between species for all chemical composition, but between portions, only alcohol-toluene soluble and holocellulose are significant. For parts, all chemical composition is significant, except for lignin. This study proved that small diameter wild Acacia mangium and Leuceana leucocephala as a viable resource for pulp and paper industry.