Catalyst screening on diimide transfer hydrogenation of natural rubber latex

Latex as the precursor of natural rubber has the high elasticity and plasticity superior to synthetic rubber. However, it tends to coagulate easily and makes the latex unstable for thermal treatment such as hydrogenation and compounding, which are required for it to be processed further. Therefore, latex treatment before and during hydrogenation are necessary. In this research, 1% SDS (sodium dodecyl sulphate) as a surfactant, 200 rpm of stirring velocity, 20% of dry rubber content were used as the treatment processing parameter, where the temperature was used as the independent variable, to determine the highest turbidity and the lowest viscosity condition of the latex. After optimum processing temperature, has been obtained, the latex was then hydrogenated with and without the addition of DPNR (Deproteinized Natural Rubber) catalysts which were FeSO4, boric acid, Zn-Acetate, Cu-Acetate, and CuSO4. In this case, hydrogenation efficiency measured by means of the degree of hydrogenation that represented by numbers of C double bond. It was found that the interplay between all the variables has different effects towards the colloidal stability of the latex and the effectivity of the hydrogenation itself.