Abstract: Disclosed are polymeric compositions comprising polyhydroxyalkanoates. These compositions can comprise a blend comprising a polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) polymer, and a rubber polymer. The blend can comprise a biphasic mixture comprising a first phase comprising the PHA polymer, and a second phase comprising the rubber polymer dispersed with the first phase. The rubber polymer can be crosslinked, for example, through reaction with a free radical initiator. By incorporating the dynamically crosslinked rubber polymer, the polymer composition can exhibit one or more improved characteristics relative to PHA alone, including improved thermal stability, improved melt strength, improved flexibility, improved toughness, or a combination thereof. Also provided are articles formed at least in part from these polymeric compositions, as well as methods of making these polymeric compositions.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a method for culturing a plant, said method comprising a culture step wherein said plant is submitted to repeated thermal cycles, wherein, for each thermal cycle, cool temperature and warm temperature are alternately artificially applied to all or a part of said plant, over a period shorter than natural seasons. The present invention also concerns a method for producing natural rubber from latex-producing plants, said method comprising the steps of (a) culturing the latex-producing plant by implementing the method of culture of the invention, (b) harvesting part or all of root part of said plant, and (c) extracting natural rubber from the root part harvested at step b).

Abstract: A rubber composite comprises at least one of a natural and a synthetic rubber polymer and a plasticizer comprising a liquid natural rubber. The liquid natural rubber may be liquid guayule natural rubber. The rubber composite is substantially free of petroleum crude oil. Also provided are methods of making a rubber composite material including liquefying at least one of a guayule solid natural rubber and a guayule latex to form a liquid guayule natural rubber, mixing the liquid guayule natural rubber with at least one of a natural and a synthetic rubber polymer to form a rubber mixture, and vulcanizing the rubber mixture.

Abstract: Medical radiation attenuation thin films, methods of making the same, and articles such as gloves made therefrom, are disclosed. The thin films utilize guayule natural rubber, sulfur and an attenuation filler such as Bi2O3. The films mix the guayule natural rubber, sulfur and attenuation filler and cure the mixture at about 80 to about 105° C. for about 40 to about 90 minutes.

Abstract: Methods are provided for rapid and efficient removal and separation of leaves and bark from harvested plant material for use in extraction and purification of plant products, and in particular, the removal of leaves and bark from Guayule for the extraction of latex for use in latex and rubber products.

Abstract: The invention provides the genetically manipulated herbicide-resistant rubber producing dandelion plants and seed of said plants. Another aspect of the invention comprises progeny plants, or seeds, or regenerable parts of plants and seeds of the genetically manipulated herbicide-resistant dandelion plants. Applicants have further found that use of root cells for transformation and other optimized protocols enable quick transformation with high plant regeneration. Further, Applicants have developed the first transformation/regeneration protocol that is successful without the addition of hormone treatment.

Abstract: The present invention relates to transgenic guayule plants that produce increased amounts of rubber uses thereof.

Abstract: Materials and methods to enhance extractable natural rubber yields from plants are disclosed. The materials and methods of the present invention can be used with minimal capital investment, and can provide new agricultural, manufacturing, sales, and transport jobs for local economies. The materials and methods described herein can also be used in conjunction with presently known natural rubber extraction methods to enhance extractable natural rubber yields. Also describe herein are methods for producing a crude enzyme extract for use in rubber extraction methods of the present invention.

Abstract: Rubber composites containing macro-, micro-, and nano-sized fillers made from agricultural, industrial, and food processing wastes, methods of making the same, and articles fabricated therefrom, are described. In a particular embodiment described herein is a rubber composite comprising a) a rubber component selected from the group consisting of: a natural rubber component; and a synthetic rubber component; b) a crosslinking system; one or more accelerators; one or more activators; and a filler comprising vegetable waste, mineral waste, lignocellulosic waste, or a combination thereof.

Abstract: Methods are provided for rapid and efficient removal and separation of leaves and bark from harvested plant material for use in extraction and purification of plant products, and in particular, the removal of leaves and bark from Guayule for the extraction of latex for use in latex and rubber products.

Abstract: Latex products containing macro-, micro-, and nano-sized fillers made from agricultural, industrial, and food processing wastes, methods of making the same, and articles fabricated therefrom, are described.

Abstract: The disclosed invention provides methods and compositions for increasing terpenoid production, such as sesquiterpenoids, such as farnesene, in plant cells.

Abstract: This invention is directed to a new technique of genetic transformation using low light conditions and leaf strips in the Guayule plant, Parthenium argentatum. The invention also relates to new lines of Guayule, created through this technique.

Abstract: The present invention relates to engineering plants to express higher levels than endogenous amounts of terpenoids, such as farnesene. Plants that can be so engineered include those with large carbon stores, such as sweet sorghum and sugar cane.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides for a formula and process for making elastomeric rubber thin film articles. In particular, the formula and process is a system which produces non-Hevea or Guayule natural rubber latex (GNRL) thin film articles which have a thickness of 30-80 microns (0.03-0.08 mm), and preferably less than 40 microns (0.04 mm). These thin film articles exhibit physical strength properties similar to that of Hevea brazilensis natural rubber latex (NRL). More specifically, the disclosed thin rubber thin film articles exhibit unaged tensile strength of at least 24 MPa (about 3500 psi) and aged tensile strength of at least 19 MPa (about 2800 psi).

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and apparatus for the extraction of high molecular weight biopolymers from plants. Specifically, invention described herein relates to the commercial processing of plant material, including that from desert plants native to the southwestern United States and Mexico, such as the guayule plant (Parthenium argentatum), for the extraction of biopolymers, including natural rubbers. More specifically, the invention relates to laboratory to commercial scale extraction of high molecular weight biopolymers from plant materials including the chemical and mechanical processing of the plants and purification of the extracted biopolymer.

Abstract: Transgenic guayule lines were created by constitutively expressing transgenes that encode for prenyltransferase and allylic diphosphate synthase. These new lines are important to rubber production because they result in plants that produce latex rubber which is lower in guayulin, a compound that produces a skin irritation in some animals. Controlling prenyltransferase production also permits the control of the production of resin by the plants, which has important industrial implications. Additionally, prenyltransferase manipulation can result in latex particles of different size, containing rubber of different molecular weight, which is also significant to industrial production. Although the elevated prenyltransferase activity in the transgenic lines resulted in shorter rubber molecules, the number of rubber molecules made by these transgenic lines was increased.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and apparatus for the extraction of high molecular weight biopolymers from plants. Specifically, invention described herein relates to the commercial processing of plant material, including that from desert plants native to the southwestern United States and Mexico, such as the guayule plant (Parthenium argentatum), for the extraction of biopolymers, including natural rubbers. More specifically, the invention relates to laboratory to commercial scale extraction of high molecular weight biopolymers from plant materials including the chemical and mechanical processing of the plants and purification of the extracted biopolymer.

Abstract: A method for the extraction, separation, fractionation and purification of biopolymers from plant materials using supercritical and/or subcritical solvent extractions is disclosed. Specifically, the process can be used for the separation of resins and rubber from guayule shrub (Parthenium argentatum), and other rubber and/or resin containing plant materials, using supercritical solvent extraction, for example supercritical carbon dioxide extraction. Additionally, polar and/or non-polar co-solvents can be used with supercritical carbon dioxide to enhance the selective extraction of resins and rubbers from the shrub.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides for a method of rapid expanded solvent extraction of biopolymers, such as rubber, from plant materials, such as guayule, using an expanded hexane solvent. As is illustrated herein, the use of the expanded hexane solvent results in a markedly more efficient and rapid extraction process over other supercritical carbon dioxide extraction systems, including those systems using a hexane cosolvent.