Biobased Contents of Natural Rubber Model Compound and Its Separated Constituents

Masao Kunioka,Mari Nakajima,Shunji Araki,Fumi Ninomiya,Akira Saito,Kazuhiro Taguchi

doi:10.3390/polym6020423

Masao Kunioka, Mari Nakajima + Show 4 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/polym6020423

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Abstract

Production of rubber products with biobased constituents from biomass resources is desirable for conserving our planet’s limited resources and preventing global warming. Herein, a natural rubber model compound was produced to determine the biobased contents as per various indices for calculating the amount of biomass resources used in rubber products. The biobased mass and biobased carbon contents of the natural rubber model compound were 38.7% and 39.2%, respectively, which were calculated from the feed amounts of the constituents as per the International Organization for Standardization (ISO)/the draft of International Standard (DIS) 16620-2 and 16620-4. The model compound was separated into its constituents such as polymer, additive, carbon black, and zinc oxide using ISO 1407, 4650, 7720-2, and 9924-3. The biobased carbon content of this model compound was 37.6%, calculated from the percent of modern carbon (pMC), which was measured directly using accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS). The calculated values for this model compound agreed with those calculated from the feed amounts of the constituents. Thus, it was confirmed that these calculation and determination methods of the biobased mass and the biobased carbon contents for rubber products should be published as new ISO international standards after a discussion at technical committee 45, “rubber and rubber products” to evaluate rubber products with larger biobased contents of natural rubber and other biobased ingredients.

Highlights

During the early periods of the rubber industry, only natural rubber was used for manufacturing rubber products
With regard to plastic products, the biobased carbon content and biobased mass content were defined by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 16620 series, as explained in the Introduction
The biobased mass content of this compound could be calculated from the feed composition based on ISO 16620-4

Summary

Introduction

During the early periods of the rubber industry, only natural rubber was used for manufacturing rubber products. Many types of synthetic rubber such as styrene-butadiene rubber were developed using petroleum resources. To reduce the use of petroleum, which is a nonrenewable resource, and global warming, by reducing CO2 emissions, it is important to change the source of rubber products from petroleum to biomass, which is sustainable. To achieve this goal, it is necessary that the amount of natural rubber should be increased, and that synthetic rubbers should be developed from biomass-based monomers. Microbial production of isoprene has been reported [1,2] From such biobased isoprene monomers, polyisoprene could be produced as biobased synthetic rubber. The production of natural rubber from Russian dandelion (Taraxacum kok-saghyz) and Guayule (Parthenium argentatum), which can grow in regions of the world, is being developed [3,4]

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