Abstract

A new method is described by which rubber hydrocarbon of a high degree of purity can be obtained without resorting to any drastic chemical or mechanical treatment of the rubber. Rubber latex is treated with ammonium oleate, which displaces the proteins from the surface of the rubber particles. The displaced proteins, along with other nonrubber substances present in the serum, are removed by repeated creaming of the latex. Finally, the creamed latex is “solubilized” in n-hexane, and the rubber precipitated by adding acetone.