AGR182

PLANTATION
CROPS I
CHAPTER 5
Processing
01 Latex collection

02 Latex processing
 LATEX
01
COLLECTION
LATEX COLLECTION & PROCESSING

Pooled Processed at
Collection latex collection
Collection from area centre –
of latex in from
cups from sent to Determination
tapped collection of Dry Rubber
each tree area centre Content

Drying and Coagulated

further rubber made Coagulation
of latex
processing into sheets
 LATEX
• 80% of the rubber yield is in the form of latex and 20% is
the lower grade field coagula/scrap rubber (cuplumps,
tree laces and other form of solid rubber).
• Fresh latex, as it comes out from the tree is slightly
alkaline or neutral.
• It becomes acidic rapidly due to bacterial action.
• The formation of organic acids neutralizes the negative
charges on rubber particles and the latex gradually gets
coagulated on keeping.
• Therefore, fresh latex cannot be kept for long without a
preservative treatment.
• In ordinary circumstances, the latex will normally coagulate
into a lump in the bottom of the cup, called as ‘cup lump’.
 LATEX
• Ammonia (stabilizing agent) is used to prevent the latex from
coagulating.

C O A G U L AT I O N
• Formic acid is a chemical use to coagulate latex.
• I n t h e f a c t o r y, n i t r i u m s u l f a t e a n d a m m o n i u m o r f o r m a l i n a r e b e i n g
added to the latex, which will then form hardened coagulum.
• It is necessary for the production of conventional sheet rubber:
Unsmoked Sheet (USS), Ribbed Smoked Sheet (RSS), Air-drier
Sheet (ADS) and Standard Malaysian Rubber (SMR).
DRY RUBBER CONTENT (DRC) OF LATEX
• Latex is a white or slightly yellowish opaque liquid.
• General composition of latex:

Rubber 30 – 40 %
Proteins 2 – 2.5 %
Resins 1–2%
Sugars 1 – 1.5 %
Ash 0.7 – 0.9 %
Water 55 – 65 %

• Latex in the latex vessel of tapped trees contains 30-40% rubber in

the form of particles known as Dry Rubber Content (DRC).
• DRC referred only to the rubber particle found in latex.
• Va r i e s a c c o r d i n g t o s e a s o n , c l i m a t e , s o i l c o n d i t i o n , c l o n e , a g e o f
trees and tapping system.
DRY RUBBER CONTENT (DRC) OF LATEX
I M P O R TA N C E O F D R C
ü As a guide in sale and purchase of latex
ü As a basis for payment to rubber tappers
ü DRC value is an important indicator of the quality of latex
ü To e n s u r e t h e o r i g i n a l i t y o f t h e l a t e x a s t h e r e a r e p o s s i b i l i t y t h a t t h e
tapper will add up water or other substances to increase the latex
weight
ü DRC is needed to calculate the chemical requirement in the latex
processing
ü To d e t e r m i n e t h e y i e l d o f a n a r e a o f r u b b e r p l a n t a t i o n .
• DRC can be calculated using the Normal laboratory method,
‘Chee’/Calung/Dipper method and Hydrometer method.
DRC: NORMAL LABORATORY METHOD
R E Q U I R E M E N T & A P PA R AT U S
ü Conical flask 50 ml
ü Clean cup/dish
ü Measuring cylinder
ü Steam bath (Steamer)
ü Analytical scale
ü Oven
DRC: NORMAL LABORATORY METHOD
Measure the Coagulate the
Take 45 ml Latex Take 20 g of latex with 150 ml
latex in and put into latex and put in
kg unit conical flask the clean cup as of 0.5% acetic
a sample acide

Coagulated latex need Take out the Put the cup

Dry in the to be thinned to 2 mm. coagulated in the
oven at 70 The thinning latex from the steamer so
degree for coagulated latex is cup and clean the latex
26 hours. known as biscuit properly coagulate
faster

Cool the
biscuit in the Weight the
dish for few biscuit Record the
minutes in unit observation
gram
DRC: CALCULATION FOR NORMAL LAB METHODS
 DRC: CHEE METHOD
R E Q U I R E M E N T & A P PA R AT U S
ü Field latex
ü Distilled water
ü 2% Acetic acid
ü Cotton waste
ü 50ml flask
ü Rubber stopper
ü Electronic balance
ü 250ml beaker
ü Air oven
ü Glass rod
ü Wa s h b o t t l e
 DRC: CHEE METHOD
Transfer 20 – 25 ml Weigh about 10 – 20
Shake well the Add equal amount of
of latex into a 50 ml g latex using an
distilled water using
given sample of Erlenmeyer flask electronic balance Note the weight a wash bottle &
latex bottle provided with a into a 250 ml beaker
measuring cylinder
stopper (initial weight)

When the serum is

Thickness of the Keep the solution Add about 2 - 3 ml of
clear, filter the serum Keep the above
coagulum is reduced undisturbed for 15 2% acetic acid per
through Whatman contents undisturbed
to about 2 mm by minutes in a water gm of latex with
No: 1 filter paper for a while
hand roller bath gentle stirring

Collect any small Dry the coagulum at

Wash the coagulum Cool & take the
particles of coagulum a temperature of 70
with running water weight of the Determination
in the beaker by for at least 6 changes degree Celsius for 1
coagulum (final must be duplicated
rubbing with main of water day or for 50 degree
bulk Celsius for 2 days weight)

C a l c u l a t e h o w m u c h D R C i s p r e s e n t i n 4 5 k g o f l a t e x . [ G i v e n : I n i t i a l r e a d i n g o f t h e s a m p l e = 5 0 g m ; t h e f i n a l
r e a d i n g = 15 g m ]
% of D R C = Final reading X 100 % ~ 15 X 100 % = 30 %
Initial reading 50
T o t a l w e i g h t o f D R C i n t h e s a m p l e = 45 kg X 30 % = 13 . 5 kg
DRC: CALCULATION FOR CHEE METHOD
DRC: HYDROMETER METROLAC METHOD
R E Q U I R E M E N T & A P PA R AT U S
ü Metrolac
ü Metrolac cylinder
ü Measurement cup 0.5 L
DRC: HYDROMETER METROLAC METHOD
Measure the volume of Take 1 portion of latex
latex in litre or scale (0.5 litre) and mix
Filter latex with kg and then with 2 portion of
convert to litre (1 litre = water (1 litre), so 3
1 kg) portions

When the metrolac Dip metrolac in the Put the latex in

settle, take the cylinder metrolac
reading cylinder
DRC: CALCULATION FOR HYDROMETER METROLAC METHOD
DETERMINATION OF DRC OF FIELD COAGULA (SCRAP)

• Visual observation : depends on its age & dryness

DRC = % of Dry weight

% of Initial wet weight

• DRC for scarp should be around 55%

 VIDEO OFDETERMINATION DRC
Video 1 Standard method
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O0tK_526PSw
Video 2 Spot Method
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BhucW761p2E
Video 2 Metrolac
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=metrolac
 LATEX
02
PROCESSING
LATEX PROCESSING
Latex
Concentration Coagulation

Creaming Centrifugation
Block rubber Sheet rubber

SMR USS/ADS/RSS
Latex glove,
Condom etc..

General & special

uses. Eg: Tyre etc..
LATEX PROCESSING: Preserved field latex and latex
concentrate
• Preserved using ammonia (min 1%) for long term storage.
• P r e s e r v a t i v e a d d e d t o t h e s i e v e d l a t e x , b u l k i n g , s e t t l i n g b l e n d i n g a n d
packing
• (2) methods of processing latex into preserved latex concentrate:

Concentration by creaming Concentration by centrifugation

• Mixing of creaming agent (ammonium • Involve the use of centrifuge to
alginate / tamarind seed powder separate the mixture
• Latex will separate into two layers: • Separation of preserved field latex
1. Upper layer of concentrated latex into 2 fractions:
2. Lower layer of serum containing very 1. Concentrated latex of more than 60%
little rubber dry rubber
• The lower layer of serum is removed 2. Skim latex containing 4-8% dry
• Add with sodium sulphite or formalin rubber
• 50-55% DRC
• Add with sodium sulphite or formalin
LATEX PROCESSING: Coagulation latex processing
B L O C K R U B B E R F R O M L AT E X
• Field latex is bulked in tanked containing sodium metabisulphite &
Hydroxylamine neutral sulphate.
• Coagulate latex using 2% of formic acid (depends on the quantity of
latex) at pH 5.2.
• Coagulum were passed through shredder to break them into fine
crumbs.
• The crumbs are washed & placed in the dryer box in the dryer chamber
for 4 hours.
• Then, pressed to form compact bales.
• Grading process.
• The bales are wrapped in transparent polythene sheet.
LATEX PROCESSING: Coagulation latex processing
B L O C K R U B B E R F R O M L AT E X
LATEX PROCESSING: Coagulation latex processing
S H E E T R U B B E R F R O M L AT E X ( 2 S T E P S )
1. Bulking & Standardization
• Factory and equipment should be clean and have a sufficient amount
o f c l e a n w a t e r.
• L a t e x a r e t r a n s f e r r e d i n t o t h e b u l k i n g t a n k t o f o r m u n i f o r m i t y.
• The DRC of latex is estimated for standardization (12.5%, 15% or
20% DRC).
LATEX PROCESSING: Coagulation latex processing
S H E E T R U B B E R F R O M L AT E X ( 2 S T E P S )
1. Bulking & Standardization
• Estimation of DRC for standardization:
I. Field latex is diluted with sufficient amount of clean water by using
the formula.
II. Left for a few minutes to rest as to allow the impurities to settle.
LATEX PROCESSING: Coagulation latex processing
2. Coagulation and sheeting (milling)
1. The standardize latex are transferred into coagulating tank.
2. The latex is made to pass through 16-24 mesh/cm moner metal
gauze strainer to separate dirt that may present in it.
3. Diluted acid (pH 4.5 – 4.8) is added to the coagulation tank and
s t i r r e d t h o r o u g h l y.
4. The partition sheets are placed in position and the tanks covered.
5. The latex is considered coagulated when a clear serum is seen over
the coagulum.
6. The tank is then flooded with clean water to submerge the coagulum
to avoid oxidation.
LATEX PROCESSING: Coagulation latex processing
2. Coagulation and sheeting (milling)
9. Sheeting is carried out when the coagula are firm enough for easy
handling.
10. The partition sheets are removed, and the coagulum slabs taken out and
allowed to pass through motorized smooth surfaced roller presser to
reduce the thickness to 4 mm.
11 . T h e s h e e t s a r e t h e n p a s s e d t h r o u g h a p a i r o f g r o o v e - s u r f a c e d r o l l e r
presser to give the sheets the ribbed appearance as well as to quickly
d r a i n o f f s u r f a c e w a t e r.
12. Sheets are washed again and the long sheets are cut into shorter
length before being hung and allowed to drip in a clean shady area for 4
hours.
LATEX PROCESSING: Coagulation latex processing
S H E E T R U B B E R F R O M L AT E X :

Unsmoked sheet (USS) Ribbed smoked sheet (RSS) Air-dried sheet (ASS)
• Conventional process • Sheets are dried gradually (40° • Dried in a shed or tunnel in hot
• The sheet are hung on the and 60°C) air instead of smoke
dripper and left till the sheet • The sheets are turned upside- • Using sodium bisulphite which
dried down the drippers everyday for inhibits enzymic discoloration
uniform smoking and drying • ASS offer a better price
DISADVANTAGES: • Four days of smoking compared to smoked sheets
• Take longer time to dry
• Require large space since the ADVANTAGES:
sheet need to be hung • Minimum dry time
individually • Minimum heat loss
• Easily infected by mould/fungus • Minimum drying cost
• Easy loading/unloading of sheet
• Min number of defective sheets
• Less labour required
LATEX PROCESSING: Coagulation latex processing
LATEX PRODUCT: RIBBED SMOKED SHEET (RSS)
• M a r k e t e d b a s e d o n v i s u a l a s s e s s m e n t o f q u a l i t y.
• Grading of RSS is important to determine the quality of RSS.
LATEX PRODUCT: RIBBED SMOKED SHEET (RSS)
 Latex
RUBBER
concentrate
PRODUCTS

Valuable
tropical Rubber
timber
Sheets
(Rubber
wood)

Block rubber under

Standard Processed
Malaysian Rubber
(SMR) technical dry rubber
specifications
 IMPORTANCE OF RUBBER
1. 2 important commodities of commercial
value - rubber (as latex or sheets) and
wood
2 . M a j o r r a w m a t e r i a l f o r w o r l d ’s i m p o r t a n t
industries:
• Automobile industry
• Tr a n s p o r t a t i o n i n d u s t r y
• Pharmaceutical & health industry
• Furniture industry
• Engineering – roads, bridges
• Specialized applications
CHALLENGES FACING RUBBER INDUSTRY &
THE ROLE OF BIOTECHNOLOGY
1. Competition with synthetic rubber
2. Higher requirements of labor
3. Higher production cost
4. Severe competition from lower cost producers
5. Environmental issues
6. Low yield production – climate change
7. Other technological issues
Thank you
for your time!