	US 11,834,526 B2
	*Processes for the removal of rubber from non-Hevea* plants**
Yingyi Huang, Hudson, OH (US); Mark W. Smale, Hudson, OH (US); Robert W. White, Gilbert, AZ (US); Hiroshi Mouri, Chuo-ku (JP); William M. Cole, Wadsworth, OH (US); Michael R. Hartzell, Gold Canyon, AZ (US); and Taigyoo Park, Mesa, AZ (US)
Assigned to Bridgestone Corporation, Chuo-ku (JP)
Filed by Bridgestone Corporation, Chuo-ku (JP)
Filed on Jul. 25, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/814,600.
Application 17/814,600 is a continuation of application No. 16/851,094, filed on Apr. 17, 2020, granted, now 11,396,560.
Application 16/851,094 is a continuation of application No. 15/894,301, filed on Feb. 12, 2018, granted, now 10,626,194, issued on Apr. 21, 2020.
Application 15/894,301 is a continuation of application No. 15/477,152, filed on Apr. 3, 2017, granted, now 9,890,262, issued on Feb. 13, 2018.
Application 15/477,152 is a continuation of application No. 15/130,050, filed on Apr. 15, 2016, granted, now 9,611,334, issued on Apr. 4, 2017.
Application 15/130,050 is a continuation of application No. 14/383,379, granted, now 9,315,589, issued on Apr. 19, 2016, previously published as PCT/US2013/029451, filed on Mar. 6, 2013.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/661,064, filed on Jun. 18, 2012.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/660,991, filed on Jun. 18, 2012.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/661,052, filed on Jun. 18, 2012.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/607,469, filed on Mar. 6, 2012.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/607,448, filed on Mar. 6, 2012.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/607,460, filed on Mar. 6, 2012.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/607,475, filed on Mar. 6, 2012.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/607,483, filed on Mar. 6, 2012.
Prior Publication US 2022/0356273 A1, Nov. 10, 2022
Int. Cl. C08C 1/04 (2006.01); C08C 3/02 (2006.01); C08C 2/06 (2006.01); C08G 83/00 (2006.01); C08C 2/02 (2006.01); C08L 97/02 (2006.01); C08J 11/08 (2006.01)

CPC C08C 3/02 (2013.01) [C08C 1/04 (2013.01); C08C 2/02 (2013.01); C08C 2/06 (2013.01); C08G 83/00 (2013.01); C08J 11/08 (2013.01); C08L 97/02 (2013.01); C08J 2307/00 (2013.01); C08L 2205/03 (2013.01)]

20 Claims

1. An organic solvent-based process for the removal of rubber from guayule plant matter comprising:

a. utilizing a slurry containing (i) guayule plant matter, the guayule plant matter comprising bagasse, rubber and resin; (ii) at least one non-polar organic solvent; and (iii) at least one polar organic solvent, wherein the slurry contains 10-50% by weight plant matter, 50-90% by weight of (ii) and (iii) combined, and 0.5-10 weight % water from the plant matter, and wherein the at least one polar organic solvent and at least one non-polar organic solvent are present in relative weight amounts of 50-90% and 10-50%, respectively;

b. removing a majority of the bagasse from the slurry to produce a miscella and a first bagasse portion;

c. removing 80-95 weight % of bagasse from the miscella, based on the total weight of bagasse present in the miscella, to form a purified miscella and a second bagasse fraction wherein the majority of the bagasse that is removed has a particle size of less than 105 microns;

d. increasing the relative amount of polar organic solvent as compared to non-polar organic solvent within the purified miscella so as to coagulate the rubber; and

e. producing solid purified rubber from the coagulated rubber where when said solid purified rubber contains 0.8 weight % volatile matter it also 0.1-4 weight % resin;

wherein at least (a)-(c) are conducted at a temperature or temperatures of 10-80° C. and a pressure of 35 to 1000 kPa, and

wherein the at least one non-polar organic solvent in (a) and (d) comprises hexanes.