The Guayule Plant Plays Key Role in Latex Rubber Production

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Researched by Industrialinfo.com (Industrial Information Resources, Incorporated; Houston, Texas). This fall, Yulex Corporation (San Diego, California) with Gowan Milling Company LLC (Yuma, Arizona) will begin construction on a pilot-scale latex rubber production plant utilizing the Guayule plant. The pilot plant will be located at Gowan's current operations in Yuma, Arizona. Yulex currently operates a commercial-scale farm for the cultivation of the Guayule that will provide a valuable feedstock for the planned pilot production rubber plant.

Upon completion of the pilot plant, Yulex intends to develop a commercial scale operation to produce Guayule Natural Latex Rubber and market it to medical product manufacturers. The bark of the Guayule plant contains a hypoallergenic latex rubber that will prove beneficial in the production of latex gloves, tubing, surgical balloons, condoms, and other associated medical devices.

Yulex, other private companies, and government institutions are currently developing other uses for the Guayule plant. With continued research, Guayule could be utilized as an adhesive, wood preservative, pesticide, and particleboard resistant to termites. Yulex in association with the Department of Energy is studying methods for converting guayule into an alternative fuel.