Advanced Solutions for Asphalt Pavements

Project Information

ASAP

Grant agreement ID: 886828

DOI

10.3030/886828

Project closed

EC signature date 24 April 2020

Start date 1 September 2021

End date 31 August 2023

Funded under

• EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions

Total cost

€ 187 572,48

EU contribution

€ 187 572,48

Coordinated by

NEDERLANDSE ORGANISATIE VOOR TOEGEPAST NATUURWETENSCHAPPELIJK ONDERZOEK TNO
Netherlands

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - ASAP (Advanced Solutions for Asphalt Pavements)

Reporting period: 2021-09-01 to 2023-08-31

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

Bitumen is key component (material) of an asphalt pavement. It binds the rock skeleton of the asphalt pavement and allow it to sustain external loads, such as: traffic load, environmental factors (rain, snow, ice, sun) and restore its damage. Bitumen modifiers can improve or restore the physical and mechanical performance of bitumen. Bitumen modifiers have traditionally been produced from produced from crude oil, such as: soft bitumen and styrene-butadiene-styrene (SBS). As the environmental and financial costs of crude oil extraction increase and production declines, there is a need to identify more environmentally sustainable alternatives. Bitumen modifiers produced with bio-based sources offer an environmentally friendly and economically viable alternative. Recent studies have demonstrated that plant-based products, such as vegetable oil can also be used as a bitumen modifier. While this offers a cheap alternative to crude oil in the production of bitumen modifiers, diverting food sources (or potential food sources) into asphalt production is unsustainable and ethically questionable, given the increased pressure on food resources globally. Biomass offers a promising alternative to crude oil in the production of bitumen and bitumen modifiers. Biomass is a renewable bio-material source which uses industrial by-products and secondary materials to produce bitumen modifiers and/or rejuvenators
A recent EU report which identified 100 radical innovations for the future named the recovery of nutrients from wastewater as one and self-healing technology as another. The ASAP project combined these two radical innovations. Cultivating microalgae via the wastewater purification process adds another environmental benefit to the ASAP project and could help the EU asphalt industry to tackle UN Global challenges, such as: Goal. 6: Clean Water and Sanitation and Goal. 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure. The technology developed by ASAP could reduce the carbon footprint of the road industry.
The ASAP project identified a new, eco-friendly, sustainable aged bitumen rejuvenator from microalgae biomass and neat bitumen modifier from bacteria originating from the waste water sludge via 3 key objectives:
i)Identification of the most suitable and environmentally friendly method of biomass processing– in order to produce aged bitumen bio-rejuvenator.
ii)Evaluation of the microalgae asphalt bitumen rejuvenator and PHBV bitumen polymer modifier – via a programme of intensive testing: a) within aged bitumen only and b) as healing agent in the asphalt self-healing system
iii)Development of a numerical rejuvenator/aged binder diffusion model.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

ASAP project studied microalgae oil originating from microalgae biomass and Poly-3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate (PHBV) originating from organic waste (sludge) leachate, as bio-based bitumen modifiers. The ASAP project demonstrated that microalgae oils can be used as an aged asphalt binder (bitumen) rejuvenator. Furthermore, the ASAP project proved that PHBV has a potential to replace crude oil-based bitumen polymer modifier by the bio-based polymer.

The key goal of the ASAP project was to couple the bio-rejuvenator with the self-healing asphalt technology. Rejuvenator encapsulation technology. The alginate capsule encapsulation asphalt rejuvenator, self- healing system was adopted for the study. Bio-oils were used as aged bitumen rejuvenator in the capsule production. The results demonstrated improved damage repair with inclusion of the capsules self-healing system in the asphalt mix.

Exploitation and Dissemination
Conferences
1. 1st International Workshop on the Use of Biomaterials in Pavements, Granada (Spain), 24-25 February 2022
2. Advances in Materials and Pavement Performance Predictions, Hong Kong (China), 22-24 May 2023
3. 2nd International Meeting on Infrastructure and Construction, Paris (France), 5-7 June 2023
4. The 7th Chinese-European Workshop (CEW) on Functional Pavement, Birmingham (UK) 4-7 July 2023
5. The Second International Conference on Maintenance and Rehabilitation of Infrastructure Facilities, Honolulu (USA), 20–21 July 2023.
Scientific publications
1. Tabaković, A., 2022, “Is this the End of the Road for Bio-Inspired Road Construction Materials”, https://doi.org/10.21809/rilemtechlett.2022.156
2. Tabaković, A., et al, 2023, “Bio-oils as Asphalt Rejuvenators”, https://doi.org/10.3390/engproc2023036027
3. Tabaković, A., et al, “Bio-Polymer Modified Bitumen”, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2023.133321
Outreach activities
1. Lectures: bio-innovation for Asphalt Pavements, University College Dublin (Ireland) Civil Engineering students (April 2022 and 2023).
2. Lecture: Innovative Asphalt Self healing technology, Bosnia & Herzegovina Futures Foundation seminar for young researchers, 3rd December 2021.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

Impact on fellows career
As the result of the ASAP project fellow received a recognition as an expert in the field of bio-based materials for asphalt pavements. As result he has been invited to join several International scientific teams that are working towards development of sustainable technologies for asphalt pavements. Fellow also successfully applied for the TNO Technology Transfer programme which allows him to commercialize the bio-bitumen technology, with an aim to establish a TNO spin out company that will focus on development of bio-based material technologies for asphalt pavement.

Impact for society
ASAP project key goal was to develop a new bio-based material which could be used as an alternative asphalt aged bitumen rejuvenator, modifier. The use of alternative materials in asphalt production seeks to reduce the use of crude oil products in asphalt pavement design. As such these novel bio-based asphalt materials will replace crude oil products (such as bitumen) and with this eliminate use of crude oil products in asphalt production. In turn ASAP bio-based asphalt technologies will improve roads industry sustainability and directly address climate change and environmental issues. ASAP bio-based asphalt technologies will create a link between the water purification process and the production of asphalt binder, creating new business opportunities and most importantly improving living conditions across the globe by providing cleaner water and new job opportunities within the roads construction industry. ASAP technologies will introduce a paradigm shift in road construction education by merging civil engineering, materials technology, microbiology, chemistry and engineering production. This is unique disruptive asphalt technology which will strengthen EU competitiveness on the global stage and greatly help in the fight with climate change.

Innovation activities
Based on the ASAP research work two patents were prepared for submission to the European Patent Office, one is submitted and second is currently in the submission process. TNO has awarded a Technology Transfer fund in order to commercialize a biobased asphalt pavement technology. Successful completion of the marketing analysis and development of a strong business model will lead to creation of a TNO spin-out company which will produce bio-based asphalt products to the market.

Contribution towards policy making
ASAP project results will help makers of the European policy on climate change.

Potential users of the project results
Asphalt pavement scientists and industry are potential users of the project results.

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