AZEqualizer
08-07-2008, 07:37 PM
Scientists from Ohio State University's Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center (OARDC) and the Ohio BioProducts Innovation Center (OBIC) recently received a $3 million grant to design and build a processing plant that would turn sticky white dandelion root sap into quality rubber (http://dsc.discovery.com/news/2008/05/14/swimsuit-olympics.html) for less money than current methods, say the scientists.
Anywhere from 10 to 20 percent of TKS' (commonly called Russian dandelion) carrot-like root is rubber-ready. "And that's without modifying them with biotechnology or breeding," said William Ravlin, a researcher involved in the project.
In initial tests the dandelion rubber is of equal quality as traditional rubber derived from the Brazilian rubber tree, the world's only commercial source of natural rubber. It comes from Southeast Asia, the only region that grows rubber trees. (Disease killed commercial Brazilian rubber trees in South America.)
http://dsc.discovery.com/news/2008/08/05/gallery/dandelion-324x205.jpg
Some of the dandelion rubber will eventually go to Bridgestone, a leading tire manufacturer.
"I think this has some real potential," said Jason Poulton, Manager of Polymer Development at Bridgestone.
"It would be useful for tire producers to have a safe and steady supply of natural rubber that would insulate us from the price increases of the last five to seven years," said Jason Poulton.
This according to an article by Eric Bland, in Discovery News. (http://dsc.discovery.com/news/2008/08/05/dandelion-rubber.html)
Anywhere from 10 to 20 percent of TKS' (commonly called Russian dandelion) carrot-like root is rubber-ready. "And that's without modifying them with biotechnology or breeding," said William Ravlin, a researcher involved in the project.
In initial tests the dandelion rubber is of equal quality as traditional rubber derived from the Brazilian rubber tree, the world's only commercial source of natural rubber. It comes from Southeast Asia, the only region that grows rubber trees. (Disease killed commercial Brazilian rubber trees in South America.)
http://dsc.discovery.com/news/2008/08/05/gallery/dandelion-324x205.jpg
Some of the dandelion rubber will eventually go to Bridgestone, a leading tire manufacturer.
"I think this has some real potential," said Jason Poulton, Manager of Polymer Development at Bridgestone.
"It would be useful for tire producers to have a safe and steady supply of natural rubber that would insulate us from the price increases of the last five to seven years," said Jason Poulton.
This according to an article by Eric Bland, in Discovery News. (http://dsc.discovery.com/news/2008/08/05/dandelion-rubber.html)