PanAridus LLC, a producer of the natural rubber alternative guayule, has earned the first patent for guayule harvesting. This is the company’s 10th patent, with nine other patents for guayule plants.
The new patent covers the company’s near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) machine, which measures the rubber content in a guayule plant while it is still planted in the ground.
The company has been working with Cooper Tire & Rubber Co. to create a tire made completely of guayule components. Cooper has already tested the Cooper CS4 tire, which is built with multiple components made completely out of rubber from guayule.
PanAriudus and Cooper are part of a $6.9 million Biomass Research and Development Initiative government grant to study guayule as an alternative rubber source and an energy source. Other partners include Clemson University and Cornell University.
