Program : Rubber (A7)

Skim latex, containing 3 – 8% w/w of rubber with small particle size is obtained along with the concentrated rubber latex. Since, it contains very low rubber content and high non-rubber content, a problem of skim latex is the difficulty to recover the residual rubber. In generally, the usual method of recovery of skim rubber is by coagulation with concentrated sulfuric acid. However, in this acid coagulation, the acid content of the coagulated rubber reduces its quality and this acid coagulation leads to generation of highly acidic effluent that necessitates additional treatment before discharge to the environment in order to avoid pollution.

Project Benefit :

To solve the above mentioned problems, the Rubber Lab., at MTEC has started research and development for non-sulfuric acid flocculants that are not subject to disadvantages. A704 is one of our non-sulfuric acid flocculants developed. Only small amounts of A704 are effective for recovering the rubber from the skim latex at all pH conditions. By using A704, a factory costs can save the cost of waste water treatment and building and machinery repair and maintenance. Moreover, the quality of skim rubber will be improved.

The efficiencies of a pilot-scale process using A704 have been assessed were filed at Von Bundit factory, Suratthani and Thai patents for A704 in 2008.