Abstract:
Possibility of improving the quality low protein rubber obtained by papain
treatment of Hevea latex was investigated. A new method for the production of high
quality low protein rubber from field latex was developed. It incorporates a new step
of maturation into papain treatment presently used. Typically, the resulting rubber
had a nitrogen content less than 0.10%, the reduction being in the region of 70-80%
compared to 50-60% reduction in proteins by conventional papain treatment. Under
ideal conditions the ash content was around 0.10%. A reduction in acetone extract
value was also observed and it varied from 15-60%. Preliminary studies showed that
technological and dynamic properties of resulting low protein rubber, are also
satisfactory.
