Secang wood contains plant color giving compounds, namely brazilin,
brazilein, and flavonoid compounds, namely anthocyanins. Anthocyanin
compounds are used to detect the presence of chemical compounds such as
borax and formaldehyde because acid and alkaline properties will react when
mixed with anthocyanins. The aim of this study is to develop acid-base indicators
from natural ingredients derived from secang wood extract which contains
anthocyanins and is used as a colorimetric reagent in determining borax levels.
The method used in the qualitative analysis of Borax is the Color Test with
the indicator paper media of secang wood extract. The quantitative analysis of
Borax used the UV-Vis spectrophotometry method with the measurement of the
maximum wavelength and determination of Borax content.
The qualitative test results used the secang wood extract paper indicator,
the positive control showed a color change from red to white and the negative
control did not change the color. In the quantitative test using UV-Vis
Spectrophotometry, the mean accuracy test for Borax levels obtained in samples
A; B; C which is shown in% recovery is 97.99; 101.23; 105.96 and the mean
Borax precision test obtained in samples A; B; C shown in Deviation Deviation is
3.74; 3.68; 2.57 with a Coefficient of Variation of 6.9; 5.45; 13.39. This shows that
the anthocyanin content in secang wood can be used as a colorimetric reagent in
determining borax levels by UV-Vis Spectrophotometry.
Keywords : Borax, Secang Wood, Natural Indicator of Color Test, UV-Vis
Spectrophotometry.