PHOTOCHEMICAL AND CHEMICAL TRANSFORMATION OF CALOTROPIS-PROCERA LATEXTOWARDS OBTAINING VALUE-ADDED CHEMICALS AND FUELS

Photothermal degradation of the latex obtained from Calotropis procera showed enhanced extraction in heptane up to 50%. Treatment of the lat ex with different concentrations of NaOH resulted in the reduction in heptane extraction of the latex. Treatment of latex with aqueous HCl c oagulated it and thus resulted in an increase in extraction yield. The (1)HNMR, (13)CNMR and FTIR spectral analyses of treated latex showed an increase in the olefinic and carbonyl groups in the latex. Thus, th is showed that photothermal treatments rendered the latex more amenabl e to hydrocracking for obtaining value added chemicals and fuels from the latex.