Rubber and by-product extraction systems and methods

A processing system for obtaining a polar organics fraction and polar compound-depleted biomass solids from a rubber bearing plant comprising:

• an extraction system comprising a plurality of continuous stirred tank extraction stages arranged in fluid communication with each other in series such that effluent from one continuous stirred tank extraction stage flows to a next continuous stirred extraction stage in the series of the plurality of continuous stirred tank extraction stages, at least one of the continuous stirred tank extraction stages in each extraction system having an inlet adapted and configured to receive a liquid organic solvent and an inlet adapted and configured to receive carbohydrate-depleted biomass solids, wherein the at least one continuous stirred extraction stage of the extraction system is adapted and configured for receiving carbohydrate-depleted biomass solids and an organic polar solvent liquid, wherein the carbohydrate-depleted biomass solids are from a rubber bearing plant of the genus Taraxacum or another non-Hevea plant, and wherein the extraction system is adapted and configured to mix the carbohydrate-depleted biomass solids with the organic polar solvent in a manner such that the extraction system generates the liquid polar organics fraction and the polar compound-depleted biomass solids;
• and a solid-liquid separator arranged in fluid communication with a last in series of the continuous stirred tank extraction stages, wherein the separator is adapted and configured for separating the polar compound-depleted biomass solids from the liquid polar organics fraction.

A processing system for obtaining a rubber-containing non-polar solvent fraction and spent biomass solids from a rubber bearing plant comprising:

• an extraction system comprising a plurality of continuous stirred tank extraction stages arranged in fluid communication with each other in series such that effluent from one continuous stirred tank extraction stage flows to a next continuous stirred extraction stage in the series of the plurality of continuous stirred tank extraction stages, at least one of the continuous stirred tank extraction stages in each extraction system having an inlet adapted and configured to receive a liquid solvent and an inlet adapted and configured to receive polar compound-depleted biomass solids, wherein the at least one continuous stirred extraction stage of the extraction system is adapted and configured for receiving the polar compound-depleted biomass solids and an non-polar organic solvent, wherein the polar compound-depleted biomass solids are from a rubber bearing plant of the genus Taraxacum or another non-Hevea plant, and wherein the extraction system is adapted and configured to mix the polar compound-depleted biomass solids with the non-polar organic solvent in a manner such that the extraction system generates the rubber-containing non-polar solvent fraction and the spent biomass solids;
• and a solid-liquid separator arranged in fluid communication with a last in series of the continuous stirred tank extraction stages, wherein the separator is adapted and configured for separating the spent biomass solids from the rubber-containing non-polar solvent fraction.

A method for extracting carbohydrate-containing liquid from a rubber bearing plant, the method comprising:

• introducing a liquid solvent comprising water, an aqueous solution, or a combination thereof and biomass from the plant or a part thereof into at least one continuous stirred tank extraction stage of a plurality of continuous stirred tank extraction stages arranged in fluid communication with each other in series such that effluent from one continuous stirred tank extraction stage flows to a next continuous stirred extraction stage in the series of the plurality of continuous stirred tank extraction stages, wherein the rubber bearing plant is of the genus Taraxacum or is another non-Hevea plant;
• mixing the liquid solvent with the biomass in the at least one continuous stirred tank extraction stage at a temperature of at least about 50° C. to enable the carbohydrates associated with the biomass to be extracted in the liquid solvent;
• and
• introducing an effluent from the at least one continuous stirred tank extraction stage into a solid-liquid separator to result in a separated carbohydrate-containing liquid and carbohydrate-depleted biomass solids.

A method for extracting a polar organics fraction from carbohydrate-depleted biomass solids of a rubber bearing plant, the method comprising:

• introducing an organic polar solvent and the carbohydrate-depleted biomass solids into at least one continuous stirred tank extraction stage of a plurality of continuous stirred tank extraction stages arranged in fluid communication with each other in series such that effluent from one continuous stirred tank extraction stage flows to a next continuous stirred extraction stage in the series of the plurality of continuous stirred tank extraction stages, wherein the rubber bearing plant is of the genus Taraxacum or is another non-Hevea plant;
• mixing the organic polar solvent with the carbohydrate-depleted biomass solids in the at least one continuous stirred tank extraction stage in a manner to enable the polar organics fraction associated with the solid to be extracted in the organic polar solvent;
• and
• introducing an effluent from the at least one continuous stirred tank extraction stage into a solid-liquid separator to result in a separated polar organics fraction liquid and polar compound—depleted biomass solids.

A method for extracting a rubber-containing non-polar solvent fraction from polar compound-depleted biomass solids of a rubber bearing plant, the method comprising:

• introducing a non-polar organic solvent and polar compound-depleted biomass solids into at least one continuous stirred tank extraction stage of a plurality of continuous stirred tank extraction stages arranged in fluid communication with each other in series such that effluent from one continuous stirred tank extraction stage flows to a next continuous stirred extraction stage in the series of the plurality of continuous stirred tank extraction stages, wherein the rubber bearing plant is of the genus Taraxacum or is another non-Hevea plant;
• mixing the non-polar organic solvent with the polar compound-depleted biomass solids in the at least one continuous stirred tank extraction stage in a manner to enable the natural rubber associated with the solid to be extracted in the non-polar organic solvent;
• and
• introducing an effluent from the at least one continuous stirred tank extraction stage into a solid-liquid separator resulting in a separated rubber-containing non-polar solvent fraction and spent biomass solids.

A method for extracting a rubber-containing non-polar solvent fraction from a rubber bearing plant, the method comprising

• (a) introducing into a first extraction system biomass from the plant or parts thereof and a liquid solvent comprising water, an aqueous solution, or a combination thereof;
• mixing the biomass and liquid solvent at a temperature of at least about 50° C. to generate a carbohydrate-containing liquid and carbohydrate-depleted biomass solids;
• and separating the carbohydrate-depleted biomass solids from the carbohydrate-containing liquid;
• wherein the rubber bearing plant is of the genus Taraxacum or is another non-Hevea plant;
• (b) introducing into a second extraction system the carbohydrate-depleted biomass solids from the first extraction system and an organic polar solvent;
• mixing the carbohydrate-depleted biomass solids with the organic polar solvent to generate a liquid polar organics fraction and polar compound-depleted biomass solids, and separating the liquid polar organics fraction and polar compound-depleted biomass solids;
• and,
• (c) introducing into a third extraction system the polar compound-depleted biomass solids from the second extraction system and a non-polar organic solvent;
• mixing the polar compound-depleted biomass solids with the non-polar organic solvent to generate a rubber-containing non-polar solvent fraction and spent biomass solids;
• and separating the rubber-containing non-polar solvent fraction and spent biomass solids;
• wherein at least one of the first, second, or third extraction systems comprises a plurality of continuous stirred tank extraction stages arranged in fluid communication with each other in series such that effluent from one continuous stirred tank extraction stage flows to a next continuous stirred extraction stage in the series of the plurality of continuous stirred tank extraction stages of each extraction system, at least one of the continuous stirred tank extraction stages in each extraction system having an inlet adapted and configured to receive the solvent and an inlet adapted and configured to receive the biomass or the solids, and each extraction system further comprising a solid-liquid separator arranged in fluid communication with a last in series of the continuous stirred tank extraction stages of the respective extraction system, wherein the solid-liquid separator is adapted and configured to separate the carbohydrate-depleted biomass solids, polar compound-depleted biomass solids, or spent biomass solids from the carbohydrate-containing liquid, the liquid polar organics fraction, or the rubber-containing non-polar solvent fraction.

A method for extracting a rubber-containing non-polar solvent fraction from a rubber bearing plant, the method comprising

• (a) introducing into a first extraction system biomass from the plant or parts thereof and an organic polar solvent;
• mixing the biomass with the organic polar solvent to generate a liquid polar organics fraction and polar compound-depleted biomass solids, and separating the liquid polar organics fraction and polar compound-depleted biomass solids;
• wherein the rubber bearing plant is of the genus Taraxacum or is another non-Hevea plant;
• (b) introducing into a second extraction system the polar compound-depleted biomass solids from the first extraction system and a non-polar organic solvent;
• mixing the polar compound-depleted biomass solids with the non-polar organic solvent to generate a rubber-containing non-polar solvent fraction and spent biomass solids;
• and separating the rubber-containing non-polar solvent fraction and spent biomass solids;
• wherein at least one of the first or second extraction systems comprises a plurality of continuous stirred tank extraction stages arranged in fluid communication with each other in series such that effluent from one continuous stirred tank extraction stage flows to a next continuous stirred extraction stage in the series of the plurality of continuous stirred tank extraction stages of each extraction system, at least one of the continuous stirred tank extraction stages in each extraction system having an inlet adapted and configured to receive the solvent and an inlet adapted and configured to receive the biomass or the solids, and each extraction system further comprising a solid-liquid separator arranged in fluid communication with a last in series of the continuous stirred tank extraction stages of the respective extraction system, wherein the solid-liquid separator is adapted and configured to separate polar compound-depleted biomass solids or spent biomass solids from the liquid polar organics fraction, or the rubber-containing non-polar solvent fraction.