Deproteinized Natural Rubber Latex via Immobilized Multi-Enzyme Filtration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for deproteinizing natural rubber latex often result in degraded performance due to incomplete protein removal, damage to rubber particles, and environmental pollution from residual enzymes, limiting its use in products like surgical gloves and condoms.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a multi-enzyme system immobilized on a mesh gauze filter screen, using protease, peptidase, and phospholipase to hydrolyze latex proteins, combined with recirculating filtration and centrifugal separation to maintain latex properties and reduce environmental impact.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If free proteases are used for deproteinization, then protein removal is achieved, but the latex performance is degraded and environmental pollution occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an immobilized enzyme carrier as an intermediary substance that binds proteases to a solid support. This carrier mediates the deproteinization process by allowing enzyme attachment and subsequent protein degradation while enabling easy separation from the latex system, thus preventing performance degradation and environmental pollution from free enzymes
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs porous materials as the enzyme carrier structure, which provides high surface area for enzyme immobilization while allowing latex components to access the active sites. The porous structure enables effective protein removal through increased contact area between the immobilized proteases and latex proteins, achieving thorough deproteinization without compromising latex quality
2Quantity of substance
If free proteases are used for deproteinization, then protein content is reduced, but residual enzymes cause environmental pollution
Solution Approach 1:
The immobilized enzyme carrier serves as a mediator that confines proteases to a solid support structure. This intermediary system allows complete protein degradation while the carrier itself can be easily separated and disposed of or reused, preventing residual free enzymes from causing environmental pollution in waste streams
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables the enzyme carrier to be discarded after use or recovered and reused. The solid-supported immobilized enzymes can be filtered out from the deproteinized latex and either disposed of as concentrated enzyme material or regenerated for subsequent deproteinization cycles, significantly reducing environmental pollution compared to free enzyme methods
3Quantity of substance
If free proteases are used for deproteinization, then protein removal is achieved, but fluidity and viscosity of latex are damaged
Solution Approach 1:
The immobilized enzyme carrier acts as an intermediary that localizes protease activity to specific sites on the carrier surface. This spatial confinement allows protein degradation to occur without free enzymes randomly interacting with latex components, thereby maintaining the fluidity and viscosity stability of the latex while achieving effective deproteinization
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The method achieves low protein content (≤45 μg/g) and antigenic protein content (≤8 μg/g) in natural rubber latex, preserving its physical properties and enabling its use in dipping products.
Implementation Method 1
using protease, peptidase, and phospholipase to hydrolyze latex proteins
Implementation Method 2
conducting recirculating filtration
Implementation Method 3
separate the water soluble polypeptides and amino acids from rubber particles by high-speed centrifugation
Data Source
AI summary
A deproteinized natural rubber latex and preparation method thereof are provided. A combined immobilization technology of a multi-enzyme system is introduced to form a multi-enzyme synergistic effect, such that high-concentration enzymes contact with proteins in natural rubber latex. Meanwhile, due to the complexity and diversity of latex proteins, the catalytic properties of different enzymes are effectively combined to realize a multi-enzyme cascade reaction, and the proteins are hydrolyzed gradually and orderly. In addition, an immobilized enzyme filter screen is introduced, and the filter screen is lifted and circulated to make rubber particles collide with high-density enzyme carrier and then complete mixing evenly to reduce damages to the rubber particles when surface proteins are removed, thereby maintaining original physical properties of the latex. The rubber latex has high stability, reusability, is easy for separation and continuous operation, and is environmentally friendly.