Yulex Corporation

Jeffrey A Martin

Katrina Cornish

Sebastian S Plamthottam

Rodger T Marentis

Jali Williams

Raymond G McCoy, Iii

Anthony Nocera, Jr

Williams Jali

Raymond G Mccoy Iii

Rodger A Marentis

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 (), 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.

Biopolymer extraction from plant materials

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 (), 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.

Extraction and fractionation of biopolymers and resins from plant materials

Growing community of inventors

Carlsbad, CA, United States of America

Jeffrey A Martin