ABSTRACT
Waste pyrolysis products are determined as possible sustainable replacement or modifiers for bitumen in the manufacturing of asphalt pavements. Three waste pyrolysis products manufactured at Teesside University using small-scale, catalytic pyrolysis of feedstock, recycled waste plastic and solid sewage biomass were characterised to determine their thermal stability, chemical composition, and rheology. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR) test, Dynamic Shear Rheometer (DSR) and Brookfield Rotational Viscosity tests were employed to characterise these potential rejuvenators. Thermal tests demonstrated the existence of volatile compounds at various levels within tested specimens. Filtered bio-waste source pyrolysis wax was found to have more resistance to mass loss. FT-IR analyses showed that bio-waste derived samples share some functional groups with unaged bitumen binders. Specimens demonstrated a non-Newtonian behaviour. Further tests are required to optimise, standardise, and use these promising rejuvenators.
