SBIR-STTR Award

High margin, low volume, specialty rubber product markets are critical to early stage commercialization of guayule natural rubber, a domestic rubber source. Current guayule production is too small to achieve economies of scale and cannot compete in the low cost, high volume, commodity markets. This project exploits the unique mechanical properties of guayule latex to develop the first radiation attenuation (RA) medical glove, a high performance/high value product. Existing RA gloves, made from latex tapped from the rubber tree, are classified as personal protective equipment, because the required loading of attenuation filler reduces glove mechanical properties below FDA medical glove performance requirements. FDA mandates that health care workers using ionizing radiation, double-glove with both an RA glove (to reduce their exposure to radiation) and a medical glove (to protect them from blood-borne pathogens) to the clear detriment of tactile sensitivity and patient outcomes. The intrinsic softness and elasticity of guayule latex allows combined high RA filler loading and glove performance that exceeds FDA requirements. A pair of natural latex RA gloves contains approximately 24g of natural rubber while commanding a price of $40-60/pair. Guayule RA medical gloves would certainly be positioned at the upper end of this range, because they could be used without double gloving and transmit a higher level of tactile sensation than current RA gloves (even without double-gloving). We can enter this market using our pilot plant capacity and demand is sufficient to support the construction of a commercial scale latex production facility with associated guayule acreage.

This application relates directly to two SBIR program priorities. The first priority is agricultural- related rubber latex manufacturing i.e. practical commercial expansion of farming of the guayule plant (Parthenium argentatum) currently grown in semi-arid regions of the southwestern United States (US) and processing latex extracted from farmed guayule. The second priority is development of alternative renewable energy from the high energy content bagasse (plant pulp residue) a by-product from aqueous extraction of latex from guayule which can be pyrolyzed into a 50000 J/g bio-oil and into transportation grade fuel sources at less than$2/gallon. This proposal also aligns with the development of technologies and services that specifically address needs of youth elderly and disabled persons military veterans and low- income sectors of the rural population; these technologies and services will enhance human capital advancement build earnings capacity increase labor force participation and/or promote job creation for at-risk vulnerable populations in rural communities. Before guayule natural rubber latex (GNRL) and its biofuels can replace foreign imports of materials of similar function agricultural and processing scale up must be funded by manufacture and sale of first-to-market high profit margin (e.g. niche market) guayule latex products. One product that meets these criteria is a guayule natural rubber latex medical grade radiation attenuation (RA) glove. Therefore profitable production of the first guayule RA medical glove is the focus of this Phase II proposal. Production of these gloves provides the initial cornerstone to guayule expansion and the massive agricultural rural development that guayule farming will provide across the southwestern US. The development of GNRL also contributes to a rapid response to COVID-19 setting the stage for preparedness with a domestic source of rubber and subsequent glove production. This crop that has the potential to be as significant as corn and soy.