Extraction of Gutta-Percha from the Bark and the Leaves of Eucommia (Eucommia ulmoides)

Gutta percha is extracted from leaves and bark of Eucommia in Soxhlet's extractor using petroleum ether (boiling range 60～90℃) as extraction agent.If leaves and bark of Eucommia have been cooked before,the extraction yield of gutta percha is greatly raised.After extraction solution is vapprized and concentrated to a certain extent,ethanol,as a precipitant,is added to it to help isolate gutta percha.Then acetone is used as a decolorant to make the raw gutta percha into pure rubber.Alcohol cannot solve gutta percha.However,it is very hard to recover the gutta percha when using chloroform as extraction agent.The cooked solutions and extraction solution can be used to recover natural medicines.