AbstrakN-metil kitosan merupakan derivat kitosan yang memiliki muatan polikationik dan dapat bereaksi dengan muatan negatif seperti kolesterol. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mensintesis N-metil kitosan dan mempelajari adsorpsi kolesterol oleh N-metil kitosan. N-metil kitosan disintesis dari kitosan melalui mekanisme reduktif aminasi. N-metil kitosan hasil sintesis dikarakterisasi dengan FTIR dan diukur kadar air, berat molekul dan indeks swellingnya. Nmetil kitosan kemudian diuji kemampuan adsorpsinya terhadap kolesterol lemak sapi. Studi adsorpsi berupa isoterm adsorpsi juga telah dilakukan. Hasil penelitian menunjukan N-metil kitosan hasil sintesis memiliki kadar air sebesar 5,17%, bobot molekul 130.106,80 g/mol, dan indeks swelling 495,04%. Adsorpsi kolesterol menggunakan N-metil kitosan mengikuti model adsorpsi isoterm Freundlich. N-metil kitosan memiliki kemampuan adsorpsi terhadap kolesterol dalam lemak sapi sebesar 11,61 mg/g. Kata kunci: adsorpsi, lemak sapi, kitosan, kolesterol, N-metil kitosan Abstract N-methyl chitosan is a chitosan derivative that has a polycationic charge and can react to a negative charge such as cholesterol. This study aims to synthesize N-methyl chitosan and study the adsorption of cholesterol by N-methyl chitosan. In this research, N-methyl chitosan has been synthesized from chitosan through reductive amination mechanism. The synthesized Nmethyl chitosan was characterized by FTIR and measured moisture content, molecular weight, and swelling index. N-methyl chitosan then tested its adsorption ability against cow's fat cholesterol. The adsorption study of adsorption isotherm has also been performed. The result shows N-methyl chitosan synthesized has characters such as water content 5.17%, molecule weight 130,106.80 g/mol, and swelling index 495.04%. The adsorption of cholesterol by Nmethyl chitosan follow Freundlich isotherm adsorption model. Adsorption ability of N-methyl chitosan towards cholesterol fat cow is 11.61 mg/g.