Multimethod Approach to Investigate the Factors Influencing High-Temperature Fuming of Bitumen
Zachary Deller1, Stephen Grist1, Filippo Giustozzi2
1Applied Chemistry and Environmental Science, School of Science, STEM College, RMIT University, Melbourne, Victoria 3001, Australia.
ACS Omega
|January 29, 2024
Summary
Bitumen fuming during paving can cause complaints. Measuring volatile mass effectively predicts bitumen fuming risk, aiding in sample screening and complaint reduction.
Area of Science:
- Chemical Engineering
- Environmental Science
- Materials Science
Background:
- Bitumen used in asphalt paving is heated at high temperatures, potentially leading to fume release.
- Fumes from bitumen can vary in intensity and may cause public complaints.
- Bitumen's chemical composition is linked to its crude oil origin, influencing fuming properties.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a screening tool for evaluating bitumen's fuming potential.
- To identify reliable predictors of bitumen fuming and associated complaints.
- To investigate the relationship between bitumen composition and fume generation.
Main Methods:
- Quantification of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes (BTEX) in bitumen samples.
- Measurement of partition coefficients for BTEX analytes across different bitumen samples.
- Determination of volatile mass released from bitumen under isothermal heating conditions.
Main Results:
- Significant variations in BTEX concentrations were observed among different bitumen samples.
- Partition coefficients for BTEX analytes showed minimal variation between samples.
- Volatile mass measurements exhibited significant differences between bitumen samples, irrespective of grade or origin.
- Volatile mass strongly correlated with reported bitumen fuming complaints.
Conclusions:
- Volatile mass is a key predictor of bitumen fuming risk.
- The developed methods can be used to screen bitumen for its fuming potential.
- Understanding volatile mass can help mitigate public complaints related to asphalt paving operations.
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