Rubber can be extracted from the juice of the dandelion.
Yet the decisive breakthrough to industrial manufacturing is proving to be a tough step. Working jointly with industry and science, the Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology IME has optimized the cultivation and production engineering over the past few years. Now the researchers – in collaboration with Continental – are building the first ever pilot system to extract vast quantities of dandelion rubber for making tires: an important milestone on the path to rubber procurement in Europe.
The joint project officially started at the beginning of October. The goal is to develop the production process over the next five years so that Continental can manufacture tires made from dandelion rubber. This is why molecular biologists at IME and the research department of the automotive supplier built a pilot facility in Münster that is capable of producing natural rubber by the ton. At the same time, they cultivate several hectares of a dandelion variety which is particularly rich in rubber. To optimize the raw material content and the properties of the blossom, the researchers concurrently grew new varieties with a higher proportion of rubber and biomass yield. The first prototype test tires made with blends from dandelion-rubber are scheduled to be tested on public roads over the next few years. The natural product obtained in this manner exhibited the same quality as the conventional rubber from rubber trees that has been imported from subtropical countries and used in tire production. However unlike the conventional rubber, it could be harvested more cost-effectively, better cultivated and grown in Germany as a sustainable raw material – even on land areas not previously suited for agricultural crops.
“Through the most modern cultivation methods and optimization of systems technology, we have succeeded in manufacturing high-grade natural rubber from dandelions – in the laboratory. The time is now right to move this technology from the pilot project-scale to the industrial scale. We have found an expert partner in Continental, with whom we now want to create tires that are ready for production,” explains Prof. Dr. Rainer Fischer, head of institute at IME in Aachen.
“We are investing in this highly promising materials development and production project because we are certain that in this way we can further improve our tire production over the long term,” says Nikolai Setzer, the Continental managing director who is responsible for the tires division. “It’s because the rubber extraction from the dandelion root is markedly less affected by weather than the rubber obtained from the rubber tree. Based on its agricultural modesty, it holds entirely new potential – especially for cropland that is lying fallow today. Since we can grow it in much closer proximity to our production sites, we can further reduce both the environmental impact as well as our logistics costs by a substantial margin. This development project impressively demonstrates that, with regard to material development, we have not reached the end of our potential.”
“We have amassed tremendous expertise in dandelion harvesting over the last few years. With the aid of DNA markers, we now know which gene is responsible for which molecular feature. This makes it possible to cultivate especially high-yield plants much more efficiently,” as Prof. Dr. Dirk Prüfer describes the research efforts at the Münster-based IME site.
Scientists there have intensively engaged with this topic there. They succeeded in proving that the rubber extracted from dandelion is of the same quality as its cousin from the rubber tree. The team under Prof. Prüfer is gathering comprehensive raw data for the first time on the individual varieties, on their rubber content and on the biological mechanisms of production. With the aid of this knowledge, they succeeded in cultivating varieties that are especially high in yield, robust, and easy to grow. “The greatest challenge was to transform the weed into a useful crop and to cultivate suitable varieties. In the meantime, a few of our plants proved to contain a markedly elevated rubber content. We will now stabilize these even further by breeding them,” explains Prof. Prüfer.
Go deeper with Bing News on:
Dandelion rubber
- Guayule and TKS: Two sides to two promising alternatives for hevea
But as a "weed" itself, the dandelion currently lacks resistance to herbicides, and therefore must be hand-transplanted and weeded. "How do you kill the dandelions without killing the dandelions?" ...
- The 13 Best Walking Shoes for Travel in 2024
The Women's ØriginalGrand Platform Venetian Loafers have an elevated platform wedge outsole with FlowerFoam (at least 25% dandelion rubber) and come in colors such as gold or black. For men ...
- Cole Haan's New Zerogrand Is a 'Great Shoe Made Better' and Is Still $70 Off After the Spring Sale
The new upgrades include the brand's FlowerFoam sole, which is made from 25% dandelion rubber, as well as a little more cushioning and a slight increase in sole flexibility. The biggest upgrade ...
- Cole Haan's New Zerogrand Is a 'Great Shoe Made Better' and Is Still $70 Off After the Spring Sale
The Cole Haan Zerogrand Remastered Wingtip Oxfords are on sale for $150—a 32% discount on the original $220 price tag. Though it only launched in March, this updated version of the classic dress ...
- Indie Sales Boards Japanese Director Momoko Seto’s Epic Ecological Tale ‘Dandelion’s Odyssey’ (EXCLUSIVE)
Indie Sales has acquired Japanese director Momoko Seto’s “Dandelion’s Odyssey,” an ecological fable animated by Guionne Leroy (“Toy Story”) and scored by Nicolas Becker (“Sound of ...
Go deeper with Google Headlines on:
Dandelion rubber
[google_news title=”” keyword=”Dandelion rubber” num_posts=”5″ blurb_length=”0″ show_thumb=”left”]
Go deeper with Bing News on:
Growing rubber
- Hallucinogenic Plant Unearthed Beneath an Ancient Maya Ball Court
Researchers have found evidence of a nearly 2,000-year-old ceremonial offering at the site in present-day Mexico ...
- Domestic tyre volume to grow up to 6% in FY25: ICRA
ICRA anticipates domestic demand from original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) in certain consumer segments like passenger vehicles (PV) and two-wheeler (2W) as well as replacement to remain healthy, ...
- The Department of Agriculture Rubber-Stamped Tyson’s “Climate Friendly” Beef, but No One Has Seen the Data Behind the Company’s Claim
As millions of taxpayer dollars flow to livestock companies claiming to raise “low carbon” beef, watchdog groups scrutinize the government’s oversight.
- Rubber clothing firm signs at Robin Hood Industrial Estate
Invincible Rubber, which provides made to measure ... Steggles added: "It's fantastic to complete this deal for a fast-growing Nottingham company. "The off-market nature of the deal shows that, once ...
- Chinese company ZC Rubber to invest nearly US $600M in Coahuila
Coahuila Gov. Jiménez celebrates the planned investment in his state with Jinrong Shen, president of ZC Rubber. (Manolo Jiménez Salinas/X) ...
Go deeper with Google Headlines on:
Growing rubber
[google_news title=”” keyword=”growing rubber” num_posts=”5″ blurb_length=”0″ show_thumb=”left”]