Bioasphalt from Urban Yard Waste Charbonization: A Student Study

摘要

The project explored the feasibility of producing useful quantities of bitumen from yard waste carbonization. This was evaluated in bench scale reactors designed to yield data on the char, organic byproduct, and aqueous byproduct yields of a wide variety of yard waste components. Variables such as plant type, species, and moisture content were examined. Results indicated that the overall product yield would be approximately 40% biochar and 60% byproduct consisting of roughly 29% aqueous and 31% organic fractions. Of these fractions, approximately 57% were recovered by off gas condensation. Results also indicated that, although preprocessing would probably be required, variations in plant type and moisture content would not have a significant impact of yield. The results demonstrated that bitumen could be generated from yard waste, and that it is likely that the volume would be sufficient to support the manufacture of asphalt. However, the properties of the resulting product are unknown. Additional research would be required to determine how to best use this material, and to quantify the properties of 'green' asphalt made from yard waste derive bitumen.