Usage of Bio-Solvents in the Asphalt Industry to Reduce Emission of Volatile Organic Compounds

摘要

Petroleum-based solvents are widely used in the production of roadway bituminous binders. Petroleumbasedrnsolvents have the capability of lowering the viscosity of binder facilitating mixing and/or sprayingrnat ambient temperature while evaporating after manufacturing. This practice is challenged worldwide as itrnleads to evaporation of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) within the environment and it alsornrepresents a significant waste of fossil fuel.rnBio-solvents have been developed for the roadway applications following “Green Chemistry” principlesrnwith the specific objective of creating bituminous binders that do not produce VOCs. These bio-solventsrnmay be used to replace petroleum-based solvents in the formulation of a wide range of bituminous bindersrnwith some adaptation. The usage of bio-solvents is relatively new, but already bio-solvents have been usedrnin the production of emulsions and “bio-cutbacks.”rnThe paper presents the current usage of petroleum-based solvents in roadway materials. It provides anrnoverview of what constitutes VOCs and why in many countries the application of products producingrnVOCs is discouraged. Guidelines that were followed to develop these bio-products for bituminous bindersrnare provided and findings of various studies concerning the usage of bio-solvents in different roadwayrnapplications are detailed in the paper.