IMPROVEMENT OF RUBBER PRODUCT QUALITY AND ELIMINATION OF SMELL

THROUGH THE USE OF DEORUB LIQUID SMOKE AS LATEX COAGULANT

Nur Asni and Dewi Novalinda

Jambi Assesment Institute for Agricultural Technology
Samarinda Paal Lima Kotabaru Jambi – 36128

ABSTRACT

Low quality rubber products when non-recommended coagulant is used during

processing as well as the natural coagulation of latex left on the tapping bowl itself is
the biggest problem faced by rubber tappers. Non-recommended coagulant such as
rubber vinegar (cuka para), P fertilizers and alum cannot prevent bacterial growth that
damage proteins, which in turn contributes to the latex coagulum (slab) to smell bad,
hence affecting people in the vicinity of the processing area. Slab produced using those
non-recommended coagulants also yields low initial plasticity (P0) value, plasticity
retension index (PRI) and dry rubber content but possessing high content of ash and
dirt. In order to overcome all the mentioned problems, the use of Deorub liquid smoke
coagulant, which can prevent and eliminate bacterial growth, is proposed. This
research aims to improve the quality of slab when Deorub liquid smoke is used as the
coagulant and the properties of this final product compared to slabs produced using the
other coagulants commonly used by farmers. Slabs using three different coagulants;
rubber vinegar (cuka para), P fertilizer and Deorub liquid smoke, as well as one
produced without the use of any coagulant material (natural coagulation) were
produced and compared. The results from experiments showed that the use of Deorub
liquid smoke as coagulant improved of the quality of slab as well as to possess other
excellent characteristics when compared to slabs produced using the other common
coagulants.

Keywords: Deorub liquid smoke, latex coagulant, rubber stink, latex coagulum (slab)
and quality.

99
 INTRODUCTION

Rubber is a leading commodity of Jambi Province, Indonesia. This is showed by

plantation area that reached 630,211 hectares, which counted as Indonesia’s second
largest after South Sumatra (Jambi Province Estate Agency, 2007). Unfortunately, the
vast rubber plantation is not followed with adequate latex processing. Latex processing
into raw materials of natural rubber such as slab, crepe, sheet etc., are still simply
managed that cause the low quality of rubber product. The quality of rubber products
(Bokar) or latex coagulum determines the competitiveness of Indonesia’s natural
rubber in the international market (Jambi Province Estate Agency, 2007). A good
rubber products showed by high level of dry rubber content (DRC) and cleanliness. To
increase the quality of rubber products, monitoring must be started from latex handling
in the plantation until final processing stage (Solichin, et al 2007).

In order to improve the quality of bokar, government has set ISO-Latex

Coagulum No. 06-2047-2002, where the value of dry rubber content and the bokar
cleanlines as the criterion. High quality bokar must meet the technical requirements,
that are : (1). Not added by non-rubber materials, (2). Coagulated with formic acid or
other recommended coagulant with appropriate dose, (3). Kept in the shade and
protected place, and (4). Not immersed in water. In addition, for raw materials of
natural rubber such as slab, Standard Indonesian Rubber (SIR) 2003 scheme should
be applied as slab quality standards with initial plasticity (P0), plasticity retension index
(PRI), level of ash and dirt content as technical spesification (Standar Nasional
Indonesia (SNI, Indonesian National Standard), 2002).

Contrarily with the standard above, in processing latex, rubber farmers in Jambi
Province usually use cuka para (rubber vinegar) and P fertilizer as coagulant or they
left it until coagulated naturally, then latex coagulum stored for one to two weeks until
one month. This treatment results bad smell (stink) in the latex coagulum. The stink is
caused by bacteria that do the biodegradation of proteins into ammonia and sulfide
compounds. Not only cause stink, but the bacteria also damage protein and amino
acids; natural antioxidants in the latex coagulum, and causes the release of Cu++ ions
that initially bound by proteins. The result is that, the rubber can be easily oxidized
when it is dried. It showed by the low value of PRI of latex coagulum, especially the
naturally coagulated (Hasma and Alias, 1990).

100
 Both of these happened because cuka para (rubber vinegar), P fertilizer, and
natural coagulant can not prevent stink. They does not contain anti-bacteria compound
that can prevent the growth of bacteria. These bacteria do the biodegradation of
proteins in the latex coagulum, resulting in the damages of antioxidants. To overcome
this problem, Deorub liquid smoke formula invented by Research Institute of Sembawa,
can be implemented at the farmer level. The Deorub liquid smoke contains compounds
that function as antibacterial, antioxidant, coagulant, also giving a brown color and a
distinctive smell of smoke (Solichin, 2004).

The compounds that function as antibacterial are phenol and its derivatives
(Karseno, 2000). These compounds not only prevent bacterial growth, but also kill the
bacteria in latex and latex coagulum, which is in turn eliminate the stink. Phenol
compound and its derivatives also function as antioxidants (Wazyka, 2000) and
antifungal (Darmadji and Sri Rahardjo, 2002) which protect the rubber particles from
oxidation at high temperatures during processing, such that the PRI value remained
high, while the antifungal characteristic prevent the growth of fungi in the dry sits.
Acids, especially acetic acid, which will coagulate the latex, also acts as an
antibacterial. Carbonyl, phenol, alcohol, and ester compounds will cause the brown
color and giving distinctive smell of smoke in the latex coagulum.

Based on this, research was conducted to improve the quality of rubber

produced in the farmer level by using Deorub liquid smoke coagulant in the process.
The use of Deorub liquid smoke expected to improve the quality of bokar produced by
farmers: no stink, dry rubber content increases, high value of P0 and PRI, and latex
coagulum that produced is clean so ash and dirt content level are low.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The research was conducted in central area of rubber production, Perdamaian

Singkut V village Singkut subdistrict Sarolangun district of Jambi Province, Indonesia.
Analysis of latex coagulum’s physical quality and technical spesification conducted at
the Laboratory of Research Institute of Sembawa. Implementation of activities take
place in September until December 2010.

Materials used in this research are garden latex from smallholder plantations,
Deorub liquid smoke, cuka para (rubber vinegar), SP-36 fertilizer, buckets / tub /

101
container / plastic mold, jerrycan, stirrer, measuring container, water, and other bokar
processing tools, also stationery and computer supplies.

The technology applied is the use of several types of coagulant materials that
commonly used by farmers and introducing the Deorub liquid smoke coagulant
combined by latex coagulum storage duration that commonly done by farmers. The
treatments are:

A. Coagulant type
1. Cuka para (rubber vinegar) acid (farmer’s coagulant)
2. SP-36 fertilizer (farmer’s coagulant)
3. Without any coagulant/natural coagulation
4. Deorub liquid smoke (proposed coagulant)

B. Latex Coagulum Storage Duration

1. 1 week
2. 2 weeks
3. 1 month

Observation were done on several quality parameters, those are: (1). Physical
condition of the slab which covers the coagulation duration, texture, color and smell, and
(2). The nature of technical spesification which covers of initial plasticity (P0), plasticity
retension index (PRI), dry rubber content (DRC), ash and dirt content.

Quality standard that used for quality assessment of natural rubber’s raw
materials (slab / latex coagulum) produced by farmers is the Standard Indonesian
Rubber (SIR) 2003 Scheme, with technical spesification P0, PRI, ash and dirt content.

The Standard Indonesian Rubber (SIR) 2003 Scheme can be seen in Table 1.

Table 1: Quality Standard SIR 2003 Scheme

Technical Specification SIR 10 SIR 20

P0 Min 30 Min 30

PRI Min 50 Min 60

Ash content (%) Max 0.10 Max 0.20

Dirt content (%) Max 0.75 Max 1.00

102
 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

1. Effect of coagulant type and storage duration to the condition of latex

coagulum (slab)

The test results with some types of latex coagulant and storage duration affect the
physical condition of latex coagulum such as texture, smell and color.

Table 2 shows that the type of coagulant affect the coagulation duration and latex
coagulum conditions (texture, smell, and color). Fastest coagulation is by Deorub liquid
smoke in 10 minutes. This is due to acids that contained in Deorub liquid smoke,
especially acetic acid that can coagulate latex quickly. Coagulation duration for other
coagulants exceed 10 minutes, this can be faster with more concentrated dosage. For
latex coagulum that naturally coagulated, the coagulation duration up to 24 hours long,
this result is in conformity with the result of Zuhra’s research (2006) that the latex will
begin thickened approximately 8 hours after tapped, called as spontaneous coagulation.
The clots are usually caused by the influences of enzymes and bacteria (micro-
organisms).

Table 2: Effect of several types of latex coagulant and storage duration on

characteristic of produced latex coagulum (slab)

Coagulant Coagulation Storage Latex Coagulum Condition

Type Duration Duration Texture Smell Color
1 week hard Strong stink Filthy white
Cuka para
(rubber 28 minutes 2 weeks hard Strong stink Filthy white
vinegar)
1 month hard Strong stink Filthy white
1 week hard Strong stink Filthy white
SP-36
55 minutes 2 weeks hard Strong stink Filthy white
Fertilizer
1 month hard Strong stink Filthy white
1 week hard Strong stink Filthy white
Natural
24 hours 2 weeks hard Strong stink Filthy white
Coagulation
1 month hard Strong stink Filthy white
1 week hard Smoke smell Brown surface
Deorub Liquid
10 minutes 2 weeks hard Smoke smell Brown surface
Smoke
1 month hard Smoke smell Brown surface

103
 Besides, bacteria (micro-organisms) also produce acids that can reduce the pH,
results in stink because the formation of volatile-acids (Zuhra, 2006). This can be seen
clearly in this research where latex coagulum that coagulated naturally, by cuka para
(rubber vinegar), and by P fertilizer produce the stink since those coagulants does not
contain anti-bacterial compounds which prevent the growth of bacteria that do the bio
degradation of proteins in the latex coagulum into ammonia and sulfide (SinarTani,
October 11st to 17th Edition, 2006). Contrarily, coagulation by Deorub liquid smoke
coagulant produces latex coagulum without stink like others. It proves that Deorub
liquid smoke contains anti bacterial compounds that can prevent and kill bacteria in the
latex.

In case of colors, the three first coagulants produce white latex coagulum, but the
color of latex coagulum with Deorub liquid smoke slowly changes into yellow to brown-
black color. That is because Deorub liquid smoke containing carbonil compounds,
phenols, alcohols and ester that cause the brown color and distinctive smeel of smoke
in the latex coagulum.

From these observations, it can be concluded that Deorub liquid smoke can
overcome stink problems since it contains compounds that function as an anti-bacterial
and anti-oxidants, also as a coagulant with distinctive smell of smoke. Compounds that
function as anti-bacterial are phenol and its derivatives. Acids, especially acetic acid, will
coagulate the latex and also acts as anti-bacterial. Carbonil compounds, phenols,
alcohols, and esters will cause a brown color and distinctive smell of smoke on bokar
(Solichin, 2004), so the rubber farmers who use Deorub liquid smoke can be avoided from
mosquito / insect bites. Besides, Deorub liquid smoke also environmentally friendly and
do not damage the skin if physical contacs happened.

2. Effect of coagulant types and storage duration of latex coagulum (slab) on dry
rubber content (DRC)
The test results of using some types of latex coagulum and observing the storage
duration show that these two parameters influent the dry rubber content (DRC) of latex
coagulum, as shown in Table 3.

104
Table 3: Effect of coagulant types and storage duration of latex coagulum (slab) on
dry rubber content (%)

Dry rubber content (%)

Coagulant Type
1 week 2 weeks 1 month
Cuka para (rubber 30. 37 58. 84 70. 16
vinegar)
SP-36 Fertilizer 32. 56 59. 43 72. 79
Natural Coagulation 35. 09 60. 28 74. 81
Deorub Liquid 56. 21 79. 33 87. 92
Smoke

It can be seen that coagulant type and storage duration affect the dry rubber
content (DRC) of latex coagulum (slab). Dry rubber content increases with increasing
storage duration on all coagulants and without coagulant. But the rate of increase
decreases with increasing storage duration.

As shown in table 3, it can be seen that Deorub liquid smoke has the highest dry
rubber content (DRC) compared to other coagulants in all storage duration levels. This is
because the Deorub liquid smoke accelerate dewatering of the latex coagulum or does
not hold water that indicated by the higher increase of dry rubber content (Solichin et all,
2007 and Balit Sembawa, 2006). For example, in 7 days storage duration, Deorub liquid
smoke has reached 56.21% dry rubber content, but by other coagulants or without
coagulant only around 30 – 35%. The characteristics of Deorub liquid smoke that
accelerate the dewatering of the latex coagulum (Syneresis effect ) estimated caused by
volatile compounds in the Deorub liquid smoke which draws water from the latex
coagulum more quickly when these compounds evaporate (Solichin et al, 2007). Impact
of this Deorub is latex coagulum weight lighter than other latex coagulum, but balanced by
higher increase of dry rubber content (DRC).

3. Effect of coagulant type and storage duration of latex coagulum (slab) on the
technical specification of quality
The test result with some types coagulant and storage duration affect the rank of
quality (specified by P0, PRI, ash and dirt content) of the latex coagulum. This rank of
quality follows the Quality Standard SIR 2003 Scheme, with P0, PRI, ash and dirt
content as indicators. For more details can be seen in Table 4.

105
 P0 and PRI are the quality indicator of the slab where the higher the value of P0
and PRI the higher the quality of the slab. Table 4 shows that the latex coagulum with
Deorub liquid smoke coagulant have much higher P0 and PRI compared to other latex
coagulum. Presumably, since the Deorub liquid smoke contain antioxidant compounds
(phenol and derivatives) that can resist oxidation of rubber molecules, P0 (rubber
molecular chain length or molecular weight) and PRI (rubber molecules resistance againts
high temperature oxidation) remained high (Solichin et al, 2007). Phenolic compounds or
derivatives function as antioxidant that protects rubber molecules from oxidation at high
temperature, such that its P0 and PRI value remained high (SinarTani, October 11st to
17th Edition, 2006). While the other coagulants have low P0 and PRI values, since it does
not contain antioxidant compounds. Therefore, the destroyer bacteria grow well in the slab
in such away that the value of initial plasticity (P0) and plasticity retension index (PRI) is
low. From the analysis of the results, it can be seen that P0 and PRI of the latex coagulum
from Deorub liquid smoke are the highest, in other words, it reach the quality standard
SIR 2003 Scheme (SIR 10 and SIR 20).

Table 4: Effect of coagulant type and storage duration of latex coagulum (slab)
to the technical of spesification quality (P0, PRI, ash and dirt content)

Technical Spesification of Quality

Storage
Coagulant Type Ash Dirt
Duration
P0 (%) PRI (%) Content Content
(%) (%)
1 week 32 45 1.02 0.21
Cuka para (rubber
2 weeks 37 45 1.13 0.24
vinegar)
1 month 30 43 1.56 0.28
1 week 29 40 0.56 0.22
P Fertilizer 2 weeks 33 46 0.69 0.11
1 month 26 48 0.78 0.26
1 week 34 38 0.46 0.16
Natural Coagulation 2 weeks 35 37 0.48 0.12
1 month 32 40 0.48 0.21
1 week 57 58 0.27 0.09
Deorub Liquid Smoke 2 weeks 54 53 0.24 0.09
1 month 53 72 0.45 0.10
Quality Standard SIR
2003 Scheme Min 30 Min 50 Max 0.75 Max 0.10
(SIR 10)
Quality Standard SIR
2003 Scheme Min 30 Min 60 Max 1.00 Max 0.20
(SIR 20)

106
 Level of ash and dirt content of the latex coagulum are strongly influenced by
process that carried out farmers in the slab manufacture (Setyamidjaya, 1993), such as
the addition of filler materials into the rubber during processing. Farmer’s habit of mixing
slab with dirt and other additional materials greatly affect the level of ash and dirt. In this
research, it can be seen that the level of ash and dirt content of the latex coagulum
processed by farmers with cuka para (rubber vinegar), P fertilizer and natural coagulate
are high. Therefore, it does not meet the quality requirement SIR 10 and 20 Scheme, the
maximum dirt content are 0.10% for SIR 10 and 0.20% for SIR 20, whereas ash content
are 0.75% for SIR 10 and 1.0% for SIR 20. The result of this experiment shows that the
use of Deorub liquid smoke as latex coagulant has met the qualification of standard SIR
10 and SIR 20 (SIR 2003 Scheme), compared with commonly used coagulant by the
farmers.

CONCLUSION

The use of Deorub liquid smoke for latex coagulant can increase the quality of the latex
coagulum (slab) to meet the standard quality of SIR 10 and SIR 20 (SIR 2003 Scheme).
Excellencies of Deorub liquid smoke compared to the other coagulants that commonly
used by farmers are :

(1). The produced slab has a distinctive smell of smoke and eliminate the stink,
(2). Faster coagulation,
(3). Can increase dry rubber content (DRC),
(4). Plasticity and plasticity retension index (P0 and PRI) are high,
(5) Levels of ash and dirt content are low.

Another benefit of Deorub liquid smoke are (1) Available in Jambi Province, (2) The
application in easier, (3) More clean slab, (4) eco-friendly, and (5) farmers can be avoided
from mosquito / insect bites as side effect.

REFERENCES

Balit Sembawa. (2006). Sapta Bina Usahatani rubber society. Rubber research center.

Darmadji, P. Dan Sri Rahardjo. (2002). Production and purification of liquid smoke from
waste of coconut shell and its potential as antimicrobial, antioxidant, browning

107
 and coagulation agent. Conf. On Innovation in engineering. 11-13 December
2002. Asian Institute of Technology, Bangkok Thailand.
Hasma, H. And Alias bin Othman. (1990). Role of some non rubber constituens on
thermal oxidative ageing of natural rubber. Journal of Natural Rubber Research.
5 (1), 1 – 8.
Jambi Province Estate Agency. (2006). Prospect and Potency of rubber comodity in
Jambi Province, Conference of Development of rubber plantation to achieve first
export comodity of Jambi province. 14th December 2006.
Jambi Province Estate Agency. (2007). Profile of the potency of the first comodity
processing in Jambi Province Plantation. Jambi Press.
Karseno. (2000). Antibacteria of liquid smoke latex wood (Hevea brasiliensis) and its
resistance spectrum. Food science master degree program, dept. of Agriculture
technology. School of Graduate, Gajah Mada University,Yogyakarta, Master
thesis.
Setyamidjaja, D. (1993). Rubber. Seri Budi Daya. Yogyakarta, Kanisius Press.

Sinar Tani. (2006). Deorub K, Latex coagulant and stink prevention. Edition, 11-17
October 2006.
Solichin, M, Hendratno, S., Vachlepi, A. Darmawi, M. (2007). The advantage of
Daerub Liquid smoke aplication as Latex coagulant for farmers and merchant of
Karet Remah company. A case study in Ayunan Papan village, Lok Paikat sub
district, Tapin district, Province of Kalimantan Selatan. Report.
Solichin, M. (2004). The use of Deorub as Latex coagulant and stink prevention in
Karet Remah company. Conference of Plantation technical meeting, 24th August
2004, Jambi.
Standar Nasional Indonesia (SNI, Indonesian National Standard). (2002). Rubber
material processing. National Standard Agent. SNI 06-2047-2002.
Wazyka Agung. (2000). Activity of liquid smoke latex wood antioxidant and its re-
distiller to linoleat acid and poli-isopren. Food science program, dept of
Agriculture. School of Graduate, Gajah Mada University, Yogyakarta, Master
thesis.
Zuhra, Fatimah, C. (2006). Rubber. Journal of Department of Chemistery. Faculty of
Science and Mathematics. North Sumatera University.

108