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Review
. 2021 Jan 27;26(3):664.
doi: 10.3390/molecules26030664.

Guayule (Parthenium argentatum A. Gray), a Renewable Resource for Natural Polyisoprene and Resin: Composition, Processes and Applications

Amandine Rousset  1   2 , Ali Amor  3   4 , Teerasak Punvichai  5 , Sandrine Perino  2 , Serge Palu  4 , Michel Dorget  1   3 , Daniel Pioch  4 , Farid Chemat  2
Affiliations
Review

Guayule (Parthenium argentatum A. Gray), a Renewable Resource for Natural Polyisoprene and Resin: Composition, Processes and Applications

Amandine Rousset et al. Molecules. .

Abstract

Natural rubber is an essential material, especially for plane and truck tyres but also for medical gloves. Asia ranks first in the production of natural rubber, of which the Hevea tree is currently the sole source. However, it is anticipated that this source alone will not be able to fulfill the growing demand. Guayule, a shrub native to northern Mexico and southern United States, may also contribute. This plant not only contains polyisoprene, but also resin, a mixture of lipids and terpenoids. This review summarizes various aspects of this plant, from the usage history, botanical description, geographical distribution and cultivation practices, down to polyisoprene and resin biosynthesis including their distribution within the plant and molecular composition. Finally, the main processes yielding dry rubber or latex are depicted, as well as the properties of the various extracts along with economic considerations. The aim is to provide a wide picture of current knowledge available about this promising crop, a good feedstock candidate for a multiple-product biorefinery.

Keywords: green chemistry; green extraction; green reagents; guayule; latex; polyisoprene; rubber.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
United Nations SDGs applied to guayule and their impacts.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Guayule history timeline.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Field and various parts of guayule in Lansargues, south of France 2020.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Distribution of polyisoprene and resin in guayule stem.
Figure 5
Figure 5
(a). Longitudinal section of a guayule branch (resin in red inside a canal, bark in blue)/(b). Cross section of guayule bark (resin in red, bark in blue)/(c). Particles of polyisoprene in parenchyma cells (polyisoprene in red) [36].
Figure 6
Figure 6
Biosynthesis of polyisoprene and resin compounds.
Figure 7
Figure 7
Overview of broad chemical structure of natural polyisoprene (cis-1,4 units).
Figure 8
Figure 8
Composition of guayule resin from compiled literature data.
Figure 9
Figure 9
Industrial processes to extract rubber and latex from guayule plants.
Figure 10
Figure 10
P&ID schemes of proposed industrial processes.
Figure 11
Figure 11
Proposed applications for products and co-products of guayule processing.
Figure 12
Figure 12
Strengths-Weaknesses-Opportunities–Threats (SWOT) analysis of guayule development.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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