A process for manufacturing a product soluble in water from natural rubber, gutta percha, balata and other natural rubber-like products

摘要

Water soluble reaction products are obtained by treating natural rubber, gutta percha, balata or other natural rubber-like products with sulphur dioxides, and then treating this product with an alkaline substance to convert it entirely or partly into a product soluble in water. The alkalis may be alkali metal and alkaline earth metal hydroxides, alkali metal carbonates and organic bases, such as triethanolamine and pyridine. The alkaline process is preferably effected in an organic dispersing agent such as alcohol or ether. In examples, rubber in benzene solution is reacted with sulphur dioxide and the product boiled with methyl alcohol and aqueous caustic potash, after centrifuging to remove insolubles it was acidified and used in dilute alkali metal hydroxide solution as a wetting agent.