As yet, it has no artificial replacement. Features Bioenergy Other renewables Making rubber from dandelions November 1, 2013 By Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology IME. Now Professor Dirk Prüfer and his colleague Dr. Christian Schulze Gronover from Fraunhofer IME in Münster are developing Taraxacum kok-saghyz, also known as Russian dandelion, as an efficient replacement for the natural rubber tree. New natural rubber successfully undergoes practical testing. more information Accept. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no As yet, it has no artificial replacement. Click here to sign in with Then, hone your skills and add some dandelion into your business plan. Bio-based latex car tyres can be made from dandelions and carpets from sugar. Natural rubber obtained from dandelions could reduce the dependence on imports from Asia. While time-to-first-harvest for dandelions is undoubtedly faster, my understanding is that the trees can be tapped for rubber many, many times. “Our efforts to decrease the import of the important rubber material from the tropics, … Now Professor Dirk Prüfer and his colleague Dr. Christian Schulze Gronover from Fraunhofer IME in Münster are developing Taraxacum kok-saghyz, also known as Russian dandelion, as an efficient replacement for the natural rubber tree. … Thank you for taking your time to send in your valued opinion to Science X editors. part may be reproduced without the written permission. Rubber from dandelions: Scientists identify key components in the formation of rubber, Near-atomic-scale analysis of frozen water, Characterizing the time-dependent material properties of protein condensates, Some droughts during the Indian monsoon are due to unique North Atlantic disturbances, Network isotopy: A framework to study the 3-D layouts of physical networks, Weathered microplastics found to be more easily absorbed by mouse cells than pristine microplastics, Questions about muriatic acid and hypochlorite sodium, 1420 MHz--- the emission frequency of cold hydrogen gas. “The dandelion natural rubber has ideal material properties. Itâs the material that provides extreme elasticity, tensile strength and low-temperature flexibility in products from mattresses and gloves to adhesive tape and tires. To this end, the scientists developed an eco-friendly technique whereby only the roots are pulverized because the leaves contain very little rubber. You will see it as a milky liquid dripping from the plant when the plant is broken or snapped in two. "The plant is extremely resilient, able to grow in moderate climates and even in soil that is not or just barely suited for the cultivation of food and feed crops," explains Christian Schulze Gronover. We do not guarantee individual replies due to extremely high volume of correspondence. However, Germany's native dandelions don't produce sufficient quantities of rubber for being industrially viable. Bridgestone and Ohio State University are working together to produce rubber from Russian dandelion roots. Extraction of natural rubber from the plant was another challenge. Dirk Mahler/Fraunhofer. Your opinions are important to us. The Urban Taraxagum bicycle tire, available on the market since 2019, is the first serial product made of dandelion rubber that combines local production with minimal transport distances in … Neither your address nor the recipient's address will be used for any other purpose. The performance of tires made of dandelion natural rubber has already proven in action, and manufacturer Continental has tested a first version. The tires are equivalent to those made from Hevea natural rubber," says Dr. Carla Recker of Continental. You can be assured our editors closely monitor every feedback sent and will take appropriate actions. Increasing demands and potential problems with a devestating fungus have made natural rubber into a valuable resource. Dandelions secrete latex when the tissues are cut or broken, yet in the wild type, the latex content is low and varies greatly. The latex is allowed to coagulate to form rubber and is then carefully rolled off the finger. Right now we are still deeply dependent on petroleum products. Using its proprietary selection techniques, KeyGene develops high performing varieties of rubber dandelion: from a small weed to a real crop. Get weekly and/or daily updates delivered to your inbox. The natural rubber tree takes between seven and ten years to deliver the first harvest.". However, if the entire world production will be based on dandelion rubber, one would need the size of Austria for its cultivation. In order to meet growing demands, producers turn rainforest into agricultural land. Apollo Vredestein, a multinational tire manufacturer, is working with KeyGene, and the two have developed prototype tires made from the plant. The content is provided for information purposes only. Most natural rubber comes from rubber trees in Southeast Asia, but this source is now under threat from a fungus.Fungicides still provide at least temporary protection. Continental and Fraunhofer Join Forces to Bring Dandelion Rubber to the Roads. The dandelion rubber used is cultivated, extracted and processed in Germany. Enter the dandelion. The cookie settings on this website are set to "allow cookies" to give you the best browsing experience possible. Read More. "The dandelion natural rubber has ideal material properties. Read More. Dandelion rubber’s quality and performance are nearly identical to that produced by Hevea rubber trees grown in Southeast Asia. In the 1930s, Russia experimented with making rubber from dandelion roots but abandoned the project after the war. Articles and reports from the Life Sciences area deal with applied and basic research into modern biology, chemistry and human medicine. By continuing to use the site, you agree to the use of cookies. … The tires are equivalent to those made from Hevea natural rubber,â says Dr. Carla Recker of Continental. You can unsubscribe at any time and we'll never share your details to third parties. This document is subject to copyright. Around 30,000 different products are made from rubber today, including tires, soda drink bottle tops, tubing, and gloves. By using our site, you acknowledge that you have read and understand our Privacy Policy The carnivorous Venus flytrap, on the other hand, even notices when a lightweight like a fly lands on it. Your feedback will go directly to Science X editors. Since natural rubber is critical to the quality of many rubber products, industrialized nations in particular regard it as a strategically important resource. Scientists have now mapped the genetic bases of…. Rubber can be extracted from the juice of the dandelion. âDandelions also have the advantage of growing anually. European researchers and companies are also working on improved varieties and processing technologies. 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