Excerpt:
Aerobic microbial decomposition of guayule shrub (Parthenium argentatum Gray) by natural flora has recently been investigated as part of the research program dealing with natural rubber carried out at this Laboratory. In the course of this work, we obtained data of general interest on the broad problem of the aerobic decomposition of woody tissue by natural flora and the biochemical changes thus produced. Only those changes taking place in the first two or three weeks were investigated, because such periods appear to be as long as would be industrially feasible in rubber recovery. The data obtained show
that under proper conditions a marked disintegration of the tissue can be brought about in one to two weeks. Aspects of the problem which bear upon the technology of guayule rubber will be presented elsewhere at a later date.
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