Biopolymer extraction from plant materials

A method for commercial-scale extraction of a biopolymer from a non-Hevea plant material, comprising:

• separating small leaves, flower parts and small stems from a non-Hevea plant material using a, high capacity air density separator, wherein the small leaves, flower parts and small stems are sent to a biomass collection and reuse area;
• debarking the plant material, wherein the de-barking system increases the percentage of biopolymer extracted, wherein the woody pulp derived from the de-barking system is sent to the biomass collection and reuse area;
• grinding of the plant material;
• milling of the plant material in a chemical solution system, the chemical solution comprising a water-based solution to emulsify the plant material to form a slurry, a buffer, an anti-microbial agent, a bleaching agent, a de-foaming agent and an antioxidant, wherein the chemical solution is maintained at a pH between 7.1 and 2.5, whereby the milling results in a milled product comprised of a solid bagasse and a liquid homogenate, wherein the liquid homogenate includes milled plant material, a buffer and water;
• filtering out the solid bagasse from the liquid homogenate;
• separating the liquid homogenate into a light phase and a heavy phase using a commercial centrifuge;
• purifying the light phase, wherein soluble proteins are removed;
• and
• concentrating the light phase, wherein the concentration of the light phase produces a usable biopolymer, wherein the biopolymer is rubber latex, and wherein the rubber latex conforms to specifications of the American Society for Testing and Materials for a standard selected from the group consisting Of:
• D1076-02 Standard Specification for Rubber-Concentrated, Ammonia Preserved, Creamed, and Centrifuged Natural Latex Type 1;
• and D1076-02 Standard Specification for Rubber-Concentrated, Ammonia Preserved, Creamed, and Centrifuged Natural Latex Type 3.

A method for commercial-scale extraction of a biopolymer from a non-Hevea plant material, comprising:

• separating small leaves, flower parts and small stems from a non-Hevea plant material using a, high capacity air density separator, wherein the small leaves, flower parts and small stems are sent to a biomass collection and reuse area;
• debarking the plant material, wherein the de-barking system increases the percentage of biopolymer extracted, wherein the woody pulp derived from the de-barking system is sent to the biomass collection and reuse area;
• chopping the plant material;
• grinding of the plant material;
• milling of the plant material in a chemical solution system, the chemical solution comprising a water-based solution to emulsify the plant material to form a slurry, a buffer, an anti-microbial agent, a bleaching agent, a de-foaming agent and an antioxidant, wherein the chemical solution is maintained at a pH between 7.1 and 12.5, whereby the milling results in a milled product comprised of a solid bagasse and a liquid homogenate, wherein the liquid homogenate includes milled plant material, a buffer and water;
• filtering out the solid bagasse from the liquid homogenate;
• separating the liquid homogenate into a light phase and a heavy phase using a commercial centrifuge;
• purifying the light phase, wherein soluble proteins are removed;
• and
• concentrating the light phase, wherein the concentration of the light phase produces a usable biopolymer.

A method for commercial-scale extraction of rubber latex from guayule plant material, comprising:

• separating small leaves, flower parts and small stems from a non-Hevea plant material using a, high capacity air density separator, wherein the small leaves, flower parts and small stems are sent to a biomass collection and reuse area:
• debarking the plant material, wherein the de-barking system increases the percentage of biopolymer extracted, wherein the woody pulp derived from the de-barking system is sent to the biomass collection and reuse area;
• grinding the guayule plant material, wherein the plant material was previously chopped into relatively uniform pieces of three to six inches;
• milling the guayule with a chemical solution system, the chemical solution comprising a water-based solution to emulsify the plant material to form a slurry, a buffer, an anti-microbial agent, a bleaching agent, a de-foaming agent and an antioxidant, wherein the chemical solution is maintained at a pH between 7.1 and 12.5, whereby the milling results in a milled product comprised of a bagasse and a liquid homogenate, wherein the liquid homogenate includes milled guayule, the buffer and water;
• filtering out the bagasse from the milled product;
• separating the liquid homogenate into a light phase and a heavy phase using a commercial centrifuge;
• purifying the light phase, wherein soluble proteins are removed;
• and
• concentrating the light phase;
• wherein the concentration of the light phase produces a usable biopolymer, wherein the biopolymer is rubber latex, and wherein the rubber latex conforms to specifications of the American Society for Testing and Materials for a standard selected from the group consisting of:
• D1076-02 Standard Specification for Rubber-Concentrated, Ammonia Preserved, Creamed, and Centrifuged Natural Latex Type 1;
• and D1076-02 Standard Specification for Rubber-Concentrated, Ammonia Preserved, Creamed, and Centrifuged Natural Latex Type 3.