Patent ID: 9611334
Date: 2017-04-04
CPC Classifications: C08C,C08G,C08J,C08L

Claim:
1. A method of increasing the rubber recovery from guayule plant matter comprising: A. utilizing briquettes comprising (i) compressed chopped plant matter having an average size of 1.5″ or less, comprising bagasse, rubber, resin, residual water, (ii) no more than 5 weight % guayule plant leaves, and (iii) at least one antioxidant, wherein the briquettes have a density that is 40-325% higher than the density of the non-compressed plant matter; B. subjecting the briquettes to an organic solvent extraction process whereby the briquettes are mixed with at least one polar organic solvent and at least one non-polar organic solvent to form a slurry that contains plant matter, organic solvents and 0.5-10 weight % water, 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; and C. processing the slurry to remove bagasse and resin and recover at least 95-99% by weight of the rubber contained within the briquettes.