REDUCTION OF PROTEIN CONTENT IN SKIM RUBBER VIA BOTH EXTRACTIONS IN SKIM LATEX AND FROM RUBBER FILMS

Low-protein skim natural rubber latex suitable for manufacturing of special products for those who are allergic to proteins. Produced by centrifugation using water soluble polymer and surfactant. In this work, 6%wt/v polyethylene glycol solution was added into skim natural rubber latex and the mixture was centrifuged under various conditions, i.e. 1000, 2000, 3000 rpm and 5, 15, 20 min, to extract proteins from rubber particles in suspension before coagulation process. The skim natural rubber films were prepared from coagulated rubber and then was extracted with different extracting medium including water, 2%wt/v SDS, 2%wt/v TritonX-100 and 2%wt/v NaOH solution. The rubber film was centrifuged in the extracting medium at various conditions. The results of protein extractions from rubber particles and from the rubber film were found to be consistent. The extractable protein content at a low centrifugal speed increased with increasing centrifugal time. At a higher speed, increasing centrifugal time may not increase the extractable protein content. It was also found that 2%wt/v SDS solution could extract protein better than 2%wt/v NaOH, 2%wt/v TritonX-100 and distilled water, respectively.