Project description
Lignin as an eco-friendly binder for asphalt pavements
Roads are constructed with asphalt, a bitumen-bound material derived from crude oil. A more sustainable source is lignin, a natural polymer present in wood and easily available as a by-product of the paper industry. Supported by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the LIBRA project is studying how different forms of lignin can be used as a substitute for bitumen in asphalt. Through comparison of chemical differences and testing of performance and environmental impacts, LIBRA will provide a basis for the application of lignin binders. The outcome may contribute to environmentally friendly roads with reduced emissions and fossil resource reliance, and accelerate the green transition in Europe.
Objective
LIBRA aims to develop a comprehensive analytical framework to evaluate lignin as a sustainable alternative to bitumen in asphalt pavements. Asphalt, a mixture of mineral aggregates and bitumen, is the most commonly used material in road construction but faces economic and ecological challenges due to its reliance on crude oil. To address this, renewable biomaterials like lignin are being explored. As one of the main components of trees, lignin is highly abundant and produced industrially as a by-product of the paper and pulp industry. Due to the large quantities available, its underutilisation, and chemical similarities to bitumen, it has great potential as an alternative binding material in road applications. However, the chemistry of lignin is very heterogeneous and depends on the biomass source and the processing method, which affects compatibility and durability of asphalt mixtures. To optimise the use of diverse lignin feedstocks, LIBRA will investigate how these chemical variations influence the performance of lignin-modified binders (LMB). In addition, the project will assess the recyclability and the emission of volatile and water-soluble pollutants to determine the direct environmental impact of LMBs. Combining expertise from pavement engineering, biomaterials chemistry, environmental sciences and analytical chemistry, LIBRA will correlate mechanical and chemical properties, examine fundamental (molecular) processes and predict performance and applicability of the LMBs. Techniques such as dynamic shear rheometry, dynamic mechanical analysis, multidimensional nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and high-resolution mass spectrometry will be employed. The resulting framework will facilitate a sustainable transition to lignin-based asphalt, contributing to more eco-friendly road infrastructure, supporting the EU’s leadership in sustainable construction and addressing global priorities for greener materials and reduced carbon emissions.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- engineering and technology industrial biotechnology biomaterials
- natural sciences physical sciences optics spectroscopy
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.1.2 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) HORIZON-MSCA-2024-PF-01
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
NG7 2RD Nottingham
United Kingdom
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.