Characterising the ageing behavior of bitumen modified with textile pyrolysis oil

Abstract

Several research studies have been conducted on bitumen modification using solid waste materials. However, since textile waste contributes significantly to the formation of solid waste, more research is required on bitumen modification using textile waste. This study tried to modify bitumen using Textile Pyrolysis Oil (TXPO) and test its ageing properties. Pyrolysis oil was made by pyrolysing textile waste at 500°C. Textile Pyrolysis Oil Modified Bitumen (TXPOMB) was made by adding 1, 2 and 3% TXPO by weight of the Viscosity Grade 30 (VG30) bitumen and mixing in a high shear mixer. The binders are subjected to short-term ageing using a rolling thin film oven and long-term ageing using a pressure ageing vessel test in the laboratory. The effect of adding TXPO to a base binder and their oxidation process were investigated using Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) Spectroscopy. Chemical indices such as aromatic, aliphatic, carbonyl, and sulfoxide indices are calculated from FTIR spectroscopy to evaluate the effect of ageing. It was seen that 2% TXPO modification enhances the base binder’s ageing resistance in both short and long-term ageing conditions. This modification not only addresses environmental concerns but also improves the performance and longevity of the bituminous materials.