Fresh latex contains 2 main phase, which rubber particle constituting about 20-45% by volume of fresh latex. Whereas the most part in the latex is non-rubber or latex serum.
Latex serum is defined as the clear liquid obtained as a by-product from rubber industry. Normally, serum is of no use to the rubber industry and therefore is discarded in vast amounts as a waste product.
However, the serum contains various classes of proteins, amino acids and sugars. Thus, if disposed of carelessly and untreated, is a major source of pollutants and a threat to the communities surrounding the rubber plantations and rubber processing plants.
In Thailand alone, it is estimated that up to 2,900 million liters of the serum has to be disposed each year (Source: estimated from the amount of latex production, Rubber Authority of Thailand)
In addition, it is generally known that rubber trees are wounded almost every day by tapping. This repetitive wounding stress is very likely to assist in signaling the tree to produce special phytochemicals for facilitating rapid wound-healing and a pathogen defense-related biologically actives molecule. So, it is conceivable that rubber serum is a rich source of various phytochemicals such as enzymes, carbohydrate, and vitamin.
A wide range of biologically active constituents have been detected in serum which indicating the potential of latex serum as a source of bioactive compounds or enzymes for the pharmaceutical, biotechnological and related industries