ABBOTSFORD, British Columbia—Nova-BioRubber Green Technologies Inc. has signed a research and development agreement with National Research Council Canada to continue development of Taraxacum kok-saghyz, also known as TKS or the Russian dandelion, as a commercial source of natural rubber, according to the company.
Nova-BioRubber also received a $480,000 grant from the Canadian government's Build-in-Canada Innovation Program (BCIP) for its TKS research and development. This is the fourth Canadian government grant Nova-BioRubber has received, according to President and CEO Anvar Buranov.
Founded in Penticton in 2009, Nova-BioRubber is building the first green processing plant for producing TKS natural rubber and inulin in British Columbia, the company said.
Inulin, a polysaccharide occurring naturally in TKS and many other plants, can be used to manufacture bioethanol and prebiotic food additives, according to the Nova-BioRubber website.
Nova-BioRubber's patented, solvent-free TKS rubber extraction process not only is significantly cheaper than other processes, but it's also much more environmentally friendly, according to Buranov. The company currently is collaborating with the tire and auto industries in demonstrating its green processing technology, he said.
The cool climate and available land in British Columbia make it an ideal place to cultivate TKS, according to Buranov.