Reclaimed asphalt pavement comprising ester bottoms material and low viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material, and related rejuvenated asphalt binders and methods

Abstract

A reclaimed asphalt pavement comprises a rejuvenated asphalt binder comprising an aged asphalt binder, a biomaterial comprising an ester bottoms material including a methyl ester material, and a low viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material. The reclaimed asphalt pavement further comprises an aggregate material coated with the rejuvenated asphalt binder. Related rejuvenated asphalt binders and methods are also disclosed.

Description

RECLAIMED ASPHALT PAVEMENT COMPRISING ESTER BOTTOMS MATERIAL AND LOW VISCOSITY VACUUM TOWER BOTTOMS MATERIAL, AND RELATED REJUVENATED ASPHALT BINDERS AND METHODSCROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims the benefit of the filing date of United States Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 63 / 760,970, filed February 20, 2025, for “CRACKING RESISTANT ASPHALT BINDERS INCLUDING HIGH VISCOSITY VACUUM TOWER BOTTOMS MATERIAL AND AT LEAST ONE OF A HEAVY VACUUM GAS OIL OR A BIOMATERIAL, AND RELATED METHODS,” the filing date of United States Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 63 / 760,991, filed February 20, 2025, for “CRACKING RESISTANT ASPHALT BINDERS INCLUDING BIO-RESINS, AND RELATED METHODS,” the filing date of United States Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 63 / 760,996, filed February 20, 2025, for “CRACKING RESISTANT ASPHALT BINDERS INCLUDING HARD ASPHALT, AND RELATED METHODS,” the filing date of United States Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 63 / 896,394, filed October 9, 2025, for “CRACKING RESISTANT ASPHALT BINDERS INCLUDING BLEND OF LOW VISCOSITY VACUUM TOWER BOTTOMS AND BIO-RESINS, AND RELATED METHODS,” and the filing date of United States Provisional Patent Application No.63 / 896,416, filed October 9, 2025, for “MOISTURE RESISTANT ASPHALT MIXTURES INCLUDING BLEND OF LOW VISCOSITY VACUUM TOWER BOTTOMS, BIOMATERIALS, AND HARD ASPHALT, AND RELATED METHODS,” the entire disclosure of each of which applications is incorporated herein in its entirety by this reference.BACKGROUND

[0002] Asphalt binder, also known as bitumen, is a sticky, black, and viscous material. Asphalt may be obtained from natural deposits or may be obtained as a product of crude oil refining. Asphalt is a natural constituent of crude oil, which may include, among other things, paraffinic materials, naphthenes, aromatics, and asphaltenes. Generally, the components of different materials in crude oil are separated by distillation into various fractions. After separation, these fractions are further refined into other products such as gasoline, naphtha, lubricating oil, kerosene, diesel oil, and asphalt. Asphalt binder is the heavy constituent of crude petroleum, and typically forms the residue that remains after the oil refining process.- Page 1 - 25ASPRi8-WO-PCT

[0003] Conventional asphalt roadways include an aggregate (e.g., rocks, gravel, or mixtures thereof) that is blended with an asphalt binder. The asphalt binder binds the aggregate material, preventing the aggregate material from being stripped off, and providing a smooth surface for the roadway. Asphalt binder may be sold and used as a binder to bind mineral aggregates in asphalt concrete. Asphalt concrete, also referred to as blacktop or pavement, is a composite material used to surface roads and parking lots. Conventional asphalt concrete suffers from different types of distress modes, including permanent deformation. For example, asphalt concrete can deform to cause a depression or groove in the driving surface, also known as rutting. Rutting may prevent the designed removal of rainwater from road surfaces, which can lead to pooling of water on the road surfaces. Asphalt cement exhibiting a high degree of stiffness can mitigate against rutting.

[0004] Superior Performance Asphalt Pavement (Superpave) Performance Grade (PG) asphalt binder was introduced in the past in an effort to improve asphalt properties. PG asphalt is specified by the American State Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO). AASHTO M320 is a standard specification developed by the AASHTO for performance graded asphalts. The objective of Superpave and performance graded asphalt specifications is to address permanent deformation (e.g., rutting), fatigue cracking, and low temperature thermal cracking. To address these issues, new equipment was introduced to test the properties of the asphalt binders that affect or correlate to performant deformation, fatigue cracking, and / or low temperature thermal cracking. For example, a dynamic shear rheometer (DSR) may be used to characterize asphalt binder properties at high and intermediate temperatures; and a bending beam rheometer (BBR) and direct tension (DT) device may be used to characterize asphalt binder properties at low temperatures.

[0005] The asphalt binder may be aged prior to testing to characterize the performance of the asphalt binder responsive to aging. Methods of aging the asphalt binder include rolling thin film oven (RTFO) aging and pressure aging vessel (PAV) aging. Many performance tests are performed on asphalt binders after RTFO aging or PAV aging for 20 hours or 40 hours. G / sin(6) was introduced to characterize the unaged and RTFO aged asphalts. In addition, G*sin(6) on asphalt binders aged for 20 hours in a PAV (20-hour PAV-aged asphalt binder) was introduced to characterize the asphalt binder at intermediate temperatures. Stiffness and m-value, measured in the BBR, were introduced to address thermal cracking.- Page 2 - 25ASPRi8-WO-PCT

[0006] Although significant improvements were noted after introduction of G*sin(6), there are several shortcomings in the proposed specification, and the current criterion for thermal cracking is not reliable. The National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) 09-59 was initiated to find a better parameter that correlates the fatigue properties of the asphalt binder to the fatigue performance of an asphalt blend. To further address thermal cracking, Delta Tc(ATC) was introduced by the Airfield Asphalt Pavement Technology Program (AAPTP), Project 06-01 “Techniques for Prevention and Remediation of Non-Load-Related Distresses on HMA Airport Pavements.” The ATCis an indicator of how effectively the asphalt binder responds to aging and to assess the effect of additives in the asphalt binder. The ATCcorresponds to the difference in the critical low temperature values of the asphalt binder according to the Superpave performance grading methodology. The ATCis calculated by subtracting the BBR S-critical temperature at 60 seconds of loading (Tc, m(60s)), which is the resulting temperature when the S-value is exactly equal to the specification value of 300 MPa, from the BBR m-critical temperature at 60 seconds of loading (Tc, S(60s)), which is the resulting temperature when the m-value is exactly equal to the specification value of 0.300. The creep stiffness of the asphalt binder represents the ability of the asphalt binder to resist deformation under constant load. The Federal Highway Association (FHWA)-ICT-21-015 Rheology-Chemical Based Procedure to Evaluate Additives / Modifiers Used in Asphalt Binders for Performance Enhancements: Phase 2” suggests a minimum of -5°C for the ATCfor an asphalt binder aged in the PAV for 40 hours.BRIEF SUMMARY

[0007] In some embodiments, a reclaimed asphalt pavement comprises a rejuvenated asphalt binder comprising an aged asphalt binder, a biomaterial comprising an ester bottoms material including a methyl ester material, and a low viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material. The reclaimed asphalt pavement further comprises an aggregate material coated with the rejuvenated asphalt binder.

[0008] In some embodiments, a method of reclaiming asphalt pavement comprises obtaining a recycled paving asphalt comprising recycled aggregate material coated with aged asphalt binder and forming a rejuvenation mixture comprising an ester bottoms material including a methyl ester material, and a low viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material. The method further comprises heating the rejuvenation mixture to a temperature higher than about 100°C, and mixing the rejuvenation mixture with the recycled paving- Page 3 - 25ASPRi8-WO-PCTasphalt to form reclaimed asphalt pavement comprising the recycled aggregate material coated with a rejuvenated asphalt binder coated on surfaces of the recycled aggregate material, the rejuvenated asphalt binder comprising the aged asphalt binder and the rejuvenation mixture.

[0009] In some embodiments, a rejuvenated asphalt binder comprises an aged asphalt binder, from about 0.10 weight percent to about 5.0 weight percent of an ester bottoms material comprising methyl esters, sodium soap, monoglycerides, diglycerides, triglycerides, and unsaponifiable materials, and from about 0.10 weight percent to about 4.0 weight percent of a low viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material having a vacuum viscosity less than about 200 P at about 60°C.

[0010] This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts that are further described below in the detailed description. This summary is not intended to identify key or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in limiting the scope of the claimed subject matter.

[0011] Additional features and advantages of embodiments of the disclosure will be set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by the practice of such embodiments. The features and advantages of such embodiments may be realized and obtained by means of the instruments and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims. These and other features will become more fully apparent from the following description and appended claims, or may be learned by the practice of such embodiments as set forth hereinafter.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0012] In order to describe the manner in which the above-recited and other features of the disclosure can be obtained, a more particular description will be rendered by reference to specific implementations thereof which are illustrated in the appended drawings. For better understanding, the like elements have been designated by like reference numbers throughout the various accompanying figures. While some of the drawings may be schematic or exaggerated representations of concepts, at least some of the drawings may be drawn to scale. Understanding that the drawings depict some example implementations, the implementations will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings in which:- Page 4 - 25ASPRi8-WO-PCT

[0013] FIG. 1 is a simplified schematic of a system for forming (producing, generating) one or more materials that may be used as a component of a blended cracking resistant asphalt binder, according to at least one embodiment of the disclosure;

[0014] FIG. 2A is a simplified flow diagram illustrating a system for forming a rejuvenation mixture from a low viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material and a biomaterial, according to at least one embodiment of the disclosure;

[0015] FIG. 2B is a simplified flow diagram illustrating a system for forming a reclaimed asphalt pavement including the rejuvenation mixture and a recycled paving asphalt, according to at least one embodiment of the disclosure;

[0016] FIG. 3 is a simplified flow diagram illustrating a method of forming a reclaimed asphalt pavement including the rejuvenated asphalt binder, according to at least one embodiment of the disclosure;

[0017] FIG. 4 is a graph illustrating the distillation curve of the high viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material;

[0018] FIG. 5 is a graph illustrating the distillation curve of the low viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material;

[0019] FIG. 6 is a graph illustrating the dynamic shear modulus as a function of loading frequency for a plurality of asphalt binders showing the effect of the rejuvenation mixture on aged asphalt binders;

[0020] FIG. 7 is a graph illustrating the dynamic shear modulus of the same asphalt binders of FIG. 6 and more clearly showing the dynamic shear modulus at the higher loading frequencies;

[0021] FIG. 8 is a graph illustrating the phase angle of the different asphalt binders at different temperatures and loading frequencies.

[0022] FIG. 9 is a graph illustrating the ATCof a virgin asphalt binder after one, two, and three cycles of 20-hour PAV aging, as well as the ATCof a rejuvenated asphalt binder comprising the virgin asphalt binder after three cycles of 20-hour PAV aging and mixing with the rejuvenation mixture;

[0023] FIG. 10 is a graph illustrating the composition of the unaged virgin asphalt binder, the virgin asphalt binder after RTFO and 20-hour PAV aging, and a rejuvenated asphalt binder after RTFO and 20-hour PAV aging and the addition of the rejuvenation mixture;

[0024] FIG. 11 is a graph illustrating the colloidal instability index of the asphalt binders of FIG. 10;- Page 5 - 25ASPRi8-WO-PCT

[0025] FIG. 12 is a graph illustrating the GRP in black space of different samples of asphalt binders including a performance grade PG 64-22 asphalt binder that is unaged and after one, two, and three 20-hour PAV aging cycles, as well as the asphalt binder after one, two, and three 20-hour PAV aging cycles and the addition of the rejuvenation mixture; and

[0026] FIG. 13 is a bar graph illustrating the GRP of the different samples of FIG. 12.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0027] Various equipment and tests may be used to characterize the properties of the asphalt binders described herein. For example, a dynamic shear rheometer (DSR) may be used to characterize asphalt binder properties at high and intermediate temperatures. The DSR is also known as an “oscillator shear rheometer” and is used to measure the rheological properties of liquid asphalt binders at intermediate temperatures (e.g., about 20°C) to high temperatures (e.g., about 64°C). The DSR applies a shear stress (T) and / or a shear strain (y) to as asphalt binder. The complex shear modulus (G*) is a ratio of the applied shear stress to the resulting shear strain and corresponds to a measure of the total deformation (measured in, for example, kPa). The phase angle (8) is related to the time lag between the input and output signals and provides a relative indication of the viscous and elastic behavior of the asphalt binder (and represents the ratio of elastic to viscous behavior, measured in degrees). Materials with a phase angle of 90° are completely viscous while materials with a phase angle of 0° are completely elastic. At intermediate temperatures, asphalt binders are generally viscoelastic (with a phase angle of about 45°).

[0028] A bending beam rheometer (BBR) and a direct tension (DT) device may be used to characterize the asphalt binder properties at low temperatures. For example, a BBR may be used to measure the rheological properties of liquid asphalt binders at low temperatures (e.g., about -12°C or at different temperatures depending on the specification). A fixed static load is applied to an asphalt binder beam of known dimensions, and the resulting deflection is measured. The flexural stiffness is reported as a function of time to provide an indication of the low temperature stiffness and cracking potential of the asphalt binder.

[0029] Methods of aging an asphalt binder prior to various tests include rolling thin film oven (RTFO) aging and pressure aging vessel (PAV) aging. Rolling thin film oven simulates the aging (e.g., short-term aging) that occurs in a hot mix asphalt (HMA) facility as thin films of binder are exposed to heat and air. A sample is poured into a cylindrical bottle and rotated horizontally at about 163°C (about 325°F). Because RFTO-aged asphalt exhibits a stiffness higher than the stiffness of the unaged asphalt binder, the stiffness of the RFTO-- Page 6 - 25ASPRi8-WO-PCTaged asphalt binder is measured to determine whether the desirable viscoelastic properties of the asphalt binder have been maintained after aging. PAV aging methods are designed to simulate oxidation of the asphalt binder over the service life of pavement including the asphalt binder. In PAV methods, the asphalt binders are exposed to high temperature (e.g., about 100°C) and air pressure (e.g., about 2.10 MPa) for 20 hours (or 40 hours) to simulate long-term aging.

[0030] The creep stiffness (S-value, or more simply, S) is a measure of the thermal stresses in the asphalt binder resulting from thermal contraction. If the thermal stresses are too high, cracking will occur. Higher S -values correspond to higher thermal stresses (and a higher likelihood of thermal cracking). The creep stiffness is calculated according to Equation (1) below:PI3(».wherein P is the applied load in Newtons, L is the span length between the two supports (e.g., 102 mm), b is the beam width (e.g., 12.5 mm), h is the beam thickness (e.g., 6.25 mm), and 6(t) is the deflection (in mm) as a function of time.

[0031] The m-value of an asphalt binder represents the rate of change of the stiffness (e.g., the creep stiffness) of the asphalt binder with time and may be representative of the ability of the asphalt binder to relax stresses that develop due to thermal contraction. Determination of the m-value may include aging the asphalt binder in a PAV for a duration, such as for 20 hours or 40 hours. After aging, a beam is prepared from the 20 hour or 40-hour PAV aged asphalt binder. The beam may have, for example, a thickness of about 6.25 mm, a width of about 12.5 mm, and a length of about 125 mm. The beam sample may be tested using a BBR. For example, the beam may be submerged in a temperature-controlled fluid bath having a temperature, such as, for example, -10°C or about -40°C, depending on the specification. A constant load (e.g., about 100 g (about 980 mN)) is applied to the midpoint of the beam for a specified time (e.g., about 60 seconds, about 240 seconds). The beam may be supported on, for example, stainless steel cylindrical bearings spaced about 102 mm apart, as specified in ASTM D6648 and AASHTO T313 standards. The deflection of the beam responsive to the load is measured as a function of time using a high-precision displacement transducer. The m-value is calculated as the slope of the logarithm of the stiffness curve (the S-value) versus the logarithm of time at the specified- Page 7 - 25ASPRi8-WO-PCTtime (e.g., about 60 seconds, about 240 seconds). The m-value is shown in Equation (2) below:dlogS(t)(,m(t) =dlog(t) ’ 'wherein S is the creep stiffness of the asphalt binder at a given temperature, t is the loading time (typically measured at 60 seconds), and d represents the derivative operator (the rate of change) of the respective parameter (e.g., the creep stiffness, time). According to Equation (2), the m-value corresponds to how quickly the creep stiffness changes over time. In other words, the m-value is the rate at which the material relaxes stress under a constant load, wherein higher m-values correspond to better stress relaxation and lower susceptibility to thermal cracking.

[0032] The ATCmay correspond to the degree of embrittlement of the asphalt binder and may be calculated according to Equation (3) below:TC= TCs_TCm- (3),wherein Tcmis the temperature at which the m-value equals 0.300 (referred to as the critical temperature for the m-value) and Tcs is the temperature at which the creep stiffness equals 300 MPa (referred to as the critical temperature for the creep stiffness). A negative ATCvalue below -5°C may indicate or suggest embrittlement and reduced durability of the asphalt binder compared to asphalt binders having a relatively higher (less negative) ATCvalue.

[0033] As used herein, a high temperature compliance (HTC) of an asphalt binder is the temperature at which the unaged DSR tested sample and the RFTO tested sample fails specifications of G* / sin(6) equal to -1.0 kPa for the original unaged binder and / or G* / sin(6) equal to 2.2 kPa after RTFO. The high temperature compliance represents the highest temperature at which the asphalt binder can resist rutting or deformation under load. The unaged and RFTO-aged asphalt binder are individually placed between parallel plates spaced by about 1 mm in a DSR, and one of the plates (e.g., the upper plate) oscillates to apply a sinusoidal shear stress or shear strain on the asphalt binder. The temperature is selected depending on the performance grade of the asphalt binder and is usually varied in 6°C increments (e.g., 46°C, 52°C, 58°C, 64°C, 70°C, 76°C). The DSR measures the resistance of the binder to shear deformation and determines the complex shear modulus (G*) and the phase angle (8). One parameter for high temperature compliance is the value of G* divided by the sin(6). Unaged asphalt binders having a G* / sin(6) value greater than- Page 8 - 25ASPRi8-WO-PCTor equal to 1.0 meet Superpave PG specifications; and RFTO-aged binders having a G* / sin(6) value greater than or equal to 2.2 meet Superpave PG specifications. The high temperature compliance for the unaged and RTFO aged asphalt binder can be interpolated according to Equation (4.1) and Equation (4.2), respectively, below:T_T(log (i)+iog (G; ow)) T _ T • (A 1 A1HTC(unaged') ~1low (iog(G*^^)-log (Gow) * \ high owJ^— T, (log (2.2)+log (Gow)) / THTC(RTFO')1low+(log (G^)-l - Tlow, (4.2),og (Gfow)X 7^wherein THTC is the high temperature compliance in °C for the unaged and RTFO aged asphalt binders; Tiowis the last temperature where the value of G* / sin(6) was greater than or equal to 1.0 kPa for the unaged asphalt binder or 2.2 kPa for the RTFO aged asphalt binder; Thigh is the first temperature where the value of G* / sin(6) was less than 1.0 kPa for the unaged asphalt binder or 2.2 kPa for the RTFO aged asphalt binder; G*iowis the value of G* / sin(6) at Tiow; and G*high is the value of G* / sin(6) at Thigh. The lower temperature between the temperature at which the value of G* / sin(6) of the unaged asphalt binder equals 1.0 kPa and the temperature at which the value of G* / sin(6) of the RTFO aged asphalt binder equals 2.2 kPa.

[0034] As used herein, a low temperature compliance (LTC) of an asphalt binder is the temperature at which the creep stiffness or the m-value of the asphalt binder fails specifications. The low temperature compliance represents the lowest temperature at which the binder can resist thermal cracking caused by cold weather stresses. The creep stiffness and the m-value of a PAV-aged asphalt binder may be measured. To have a low temperature compliance at a particular temperature, the creep stiffness of the asphalt binder after 60 seconds (S(60s)) at the temperature must be less than or equal to 300 MPa and the m-value after 60 seconds (m(60s)) at the temperature must be greater than or equal to 0.300. If the S(60s) value exceeds 300 MPa or the m(60s) value falls below 0.300, the asphalt binder fails and is not compliant at the temperature. The low temperature compliance temperature may be interpolated according to Equation (5) or Equation (6) below:(300 S[0W) frji — Tiow- Tlow); (5) TLTC(S) (Shigh-slow)X(0.300 miow) ( rp- Tiowy (6),r^LTC(m-value') — Tiow(mhigh-miow)hlah25ASPRi8-WO-PCT - Page 9 -wherein Tiowis the last temperature where S(60s) was less than or equal to 300 MPa; Thigh is the first temperature where S(60s) was greater than 300 MPa; Siowis the creep stiffness at Tiow, and Shigh is the creep stiffness at Thigh; miowis the m-value at Tiow; and mhigh is the m-value at Thigh. The LTC may be the higher temperature of the TLTC(S) and the TLTC(m-vaiue).

[0035] As used herein, a usable temperature range (UTR) of an asphalt binder is the difference between the high temperature compliance and the low temperature compliance of the asphalt binder. The usable temperature range is an indication of the span over which the asphalt binder performs as specified. A larger usable temperature range is an indication of better performance of the asphalt binder across various temperatures.

[0036] As used herein, a performance graded asphalt binder is an asphalt binder exhibiting a specified high temperature compliance and a low temperature compliance. As one example, a performance graded asphalt binder having a performance grade of PG 64-22 is an asphalt binder having a high temperature compliance of 64°C and a low temperature compliance of -22°C. The performance grade of the asphalt binder may also provide an indication of the usable temperature range of the asphalt binder. For example, a PG 64-22 asphalt binder may have a usable temperature range of 86°C (e.g., 64°C-(-22°C) = 86°C).

[0037] In some embodiments, a composition of a material (e.g., an asphalt material, a vacuum gas oil, a vacuum tower bottoms material, a biomaterial) may be determined according to the IP 469 Standard, “Determination of saturate, aromatic and polar components in petroleum products by thin layer chromatography and flame ionization detection”. A SARA (saturates, aromatics, resins, asphaltenes) analysis may be performed with, for example, the latroscan MK-6 thin layer chromatograph, manufactured by Mitsubishi Chemical Medience Corporation, of Japan. The IATROSCAN is an automatic detector that performs quantitative analysis on organic mixtures separated on thin layer chromatography (TLC) and detected by Hydrogen Frame Ionization System (FID). The separation of components is performed on an exclusive thin layer chromatography media (CHROMAROD) in the same manner of normal phase TLC. The IP 469 Standard outlines a methodology for conducting a SARA analysis of the material and may be used to quantify the composition of the different components (saturates, aromatics, resins, and asphaltenes) (also referred to as “fractions”) in the material.

[0038] The different components are separated based on solubility using toluene, heptane (or n-pentane), di chloromethane, and methanol. The saturates include non-polar hydrocarbons including alkanes and cycloalkanes; the aromatics include compounds with one or more aromatic rings; the resins include polar, non-asphaltene hydrocarbons; and the- Page 10 - 25ASPRi8-WO-PCTasphaltenes include highly polar, high molecular weight hydrocarbons that are insoluble in n-heptane (or n-pentane). Saturates elute using heptane, aromatics elute using a mixture of 80:20 toluene: heptane by volume, resins elute using a mixture of 95:5 dichloromethane:methanol by volume, while asphaltenes do not elute. Other methods of performing a SARA analysis include using n-heptane (or n-pentane) to precipitate asphaltenes from the sample, while the remaining soluble material (referred to as “maltenes”) is further fractionated using a chromatography column. In the chromatography column, a silica or alumina column is employed to separate the maltenes into saturates, aromatics, and resins using specific solvents of varying polarity. The column is loaded with the maltene solution (the heptane-soluble portion). The saturates are separated from the maltenes by elution using a non-polar solvent, such as n-hexane or heptane; followed by separation of the aromatics by elution using an aromatic-rich solvent, such as toluene or benzene. Finally, the resins are separated by elution using a polar solvent, such as dichloromethane (DCM), acetone, or methanol. Of course, methods of performing a SARA analysis other than that described are possible. For example, the asphaltenes may not be precipitated from the material prior to fractionating the sample in the chromatography column.

[0039] Asphalt binders may be used in a paving asphalt to bind aggregate materials. During use, asphalt binders in paving asphalt become oxidized, reducing the binding strength between the aggregate materials and the asphalt binder, as well as the cohesion and binding within the asphalt binder itself. Oxidative aging of the asphalt binder may result in an increase in stiffness and viscosity of the asphalt binder, which may be measured by the complex shear modulus (G*) through oscillatory shear testing with a DSR. Oxidative aging of the asphalt binder also causes a significant reduction in the phase angle (8) of the asphalt binder compared to virgin asphalt binders. The phase angle may represent the time lag between the application of shear stress and the corresponding shear strain and may serve as an indicator of the balance between viscous and elastic properties of the asphalt binder, where purely viscous asphalt binders exhibit a phase angle of 90°, and purely elastic materials show no lag time in loading response and have a phase angle of 0°. Asphalt binders may be inherently visco-elastic, meaning that the asphalt binders have a phase angle ranging between 0° and 90°, depending on the test temperature and loading frequency. As asphalt binders age, the asphalt binders exhibit an increases complex shear modulus and a reduced phase angle, indicative of their transition to more brittle and lower flexibility responsive to oxidative aging.- Page 11 - 25ASPRi8-WO-PCT

[0040] In addition to the increase in complex shear modulus and reduction in phase angle, oxidation of the asphalt binder may cause the composition (e.g., the SARA composition) of the asphalt binder to change. For example, as the asphalt binder ages, oxidation and / or condensation reactions may cause aromatics may convert to resins, and resins to convert to asphaltenes. Saturates may also oxidize and shift towards resin and / or asphaltene compounds. Overall, the result of oxidation and aging of asphalt binders in paving asphalt is a reduction in the aromatic and resin content, and an increase in the asphaltene content of the asphalt binder. Resins are generally responsible for flexibility of the asphalt binder, and asphaltenes are generally responsive for asphalt binder stiffness at higher temperatures. Reduction in the resin content may cause the asphaltene compounds to flocculate and result in the loss of ductility and low temperature performance of the asphalt binder and paving asphalt. An increased asphaltene content may increase the brittleness and the softening point of the asphalt binder and the paving asphalt, increasing the tendency of the asphalt binder and the paving asphalt to crack. Reduction in the aromatic content may reduce the dispersion of the asphaltene compounds in the asphalt binder and in the paving asphalt, causing the paving asphalt to become more gel-like and brittle. Accordingly, aging of the asphalt binder causes the paving asphalt to exhibit a higher stiffness and viscosity, a lower ductility, poor low temperature and fatigue performance, and an increased risk of thermal cracking and age-related brittleness.

[0041] As the cost of materials increases, and in an effort to reduce the environmental impact of paving asphalt, the utilization of recycled materials in newly constructed paving asphalt is encouraged by many authorities, such as federal and state departments of transportation. The use of recycled materials in new paving asphalts reduces the burden on natural resources and provides significant cost savings since recycled materials can typically be acquired at a much lower cost than virgin materials. One of the most common recycled materials used in the pavement industry is reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP), also referred to as “recycled asphalt pavement.” Reclaimed asphalt pavement is the pavement material that is removed from old roads that are being reconstructed and / or resurfaced and may include aged asphalt binder and the aggregate from the recycled paving asphalt. Reclaimed asphalt pavement includes aggregate materials that are coated with asphalt binder.

[0042] One issue with using reclaimed asphalt pavement in paving asphalt is that the reclaimed asphalt pavement (e.g., the aged asphalt binder) is highly oxidized, and excessive use of the reclaimed asphalt pavement without adjustments to the other paving mixture- Page 12 - 25ASPRi8-WO-PCTcomponents can lead to brittle pavements with long-term durability and performance issues, leading to premature failure of the paving asphalt including the reclaimed asphalt pavement.

[0043] According to embodiments described herein, an asphalt binder rejuvenator (also referred to as a “rejuvenation mixture” or more simply as a “rejuvenator”) is mixed with aged asphalt binder from reclaimed asphalt pavement to form a rejuvenated asphalt binder exhibiting a lower brittleness than the aged asphalt binder and, in some instances, lower than a virgin asphalt binder. The rejuvenated asphalt binder exhibits relaxation characteristics closer to that of virgin asphalt binders than the aged asphalt binder. During the reclamation process, the aged paving asphalt is milled to separate the bulk aggregate material (which is covered and / or coated with the aged asphalt binder) to form aggregate material coated with aged asphalt binder. The aggregate material coated with the aged asphalt binder may be treated with the rejuvenation mixture (e.g., mixed with the rejuvenation mixture at a temperature above about 50°C) to form reclaimed asphalt pavement including aggregate material coated with the rejuvenated asphalt binder. In some embodiments, a portion of the aged asphalt binder is available for mixing with the rejuvenation mixture to form a cohesive rejuvenated asphalt binder. In some embodiments, a virgin asphalt binder is mixed with the rejuvenation mixture and / or the aggregate material coated with the aged asphalt binder and the rejuvenated asphalt binder of the reclaimed asphalt pavement includes the aged asphalt binder, the rejuvenation mixture, and the virgin asphalt binder. The reclaimed asphalt pavement may include a rejuvenated asphalt binder comprising the aged asphalt binder and the rejuvenation mixture. In some embodiments, the rejuvenated asphalt binder further comprises an unaged virgin asphalt binder. In some embodiments, the rejuvenation mixture interacts with the aged asphalt binder on the aggregate material (the aged asphalt binder that is available for mixing) to form a uniform and cohesive rejuvenated asphalt binder that binds the aggregate material.

[0044] In some embodiments, the aged asphalt binder may be rejuvenated with a rejuvenation mixture. The aggregate material coated with the aged asphalt binder is heated to a temperature sufficient to soften the aged asphalt binder (but low enough that the aged asphalt binder is not substantially further oxidized), and the rejuvenation mixture is added to the heated aggregate material coated with aged asphalt binder to form a reclaimed asphalt pavement comprising the aggregate material and a rejuvenated asphalt binder coating the aggregate material. In some embodiments, the rejuvenation mixture further includes a virgin asphalt binder and / or a virgin asphalt binder is added to the reclaimed asphalt- Page 13 - 25ASPRi8-WO-PCTpavement and / or the aggregate material. In some such embodiments, the asphalt binder of the reclaimed asphalt pavement includes the rejuvenation mixture, the virgin asphalt binder, and the aged asphalt binder. The rejuvenated asphalt binder may include a mixture of the aged asphalt binder, the rejuvenation mixture, and (optionally) the unaged virgin asphalt binder. At least a portion of the aged asphalt binder may be available to separate from the recycled aggregate material and to mix with the rejuvenation mixture and the virgin asphalt binder (if present) to form a cohesive and uniform rejuvenated asphalt binder. In some embodiments, the rejuvenated asphalt binder includes at least 80.0 weight percent, such as at least about 90.0 weight percent of the aged asphalt binder, the remaining portion comprising the rejuvenation mixture and, if present, the virgin asphalt binder. In some embodiments, the rejuvenation mixture constitutes less than about 10.0 weight percent of the rejuvenated asphalt binder.

[0045] The rejuvenation mixture may be formulated and configured to form a rejuvenated asphalt binder having properties similar or closer to the unaged virgin asphalt binder compared to the aged asphalt binder. The rejuvenation mixture may include a blend (mixture) of a biomaterial and a low viscosity vacuum tower bottoms (LVTB) material.

[0046] The biomaterial may comprise an ester bottoms material comprising a by-product of biodiesel refining including one or more (e.g., each) of methyl esters, sodium soap, monoglycerides, diglycerides, triglycerides, or unsaponifiable materials. The biomaterial may constitute from about 0.10 weight percent to about 5.0 weight percent of the rejuvenated asphalt binder. In some embodiments, the biomaterial comprises a first biomaterial comprising an ester bottoms material and a second biomaterial comprising a one or more biooils and / or one or more materials derived from one or more biooils.

[0047] The low viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material may exhibit a vacuum viscosity within a range of from about 1 Poise (P) to about 300 P at about 60°C, such as from about 1 Poise (P) to about 200 P, or from about 10 P to about 300 P at about at about 60°C. In some embodiments, the vacuum viscosity of the low viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material is less than about 200 P at about 60°C. In some embodiments, the vacuum viscosity of the vacuum tower bottoms material is within a range of from about 1 P to about 200 P at about 60°C. The low viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material may constitute from about 0.10 weight percent to about 4.0 weight percent of the rejuvenated asphalt binder. In some embodiments, the aged asphalt binder may constitute at least about 90.0 weight percent of the rejuvenated asphalt binder, such as at least about 91.0 weight percent of the rejuvenated asphalt binder.- Page 14 - 25ASPRi8-WO-PCT

[0048] In some embodiments, the biomaterial includes a higher resin content and a lower asphaltene content compared to the aged asphalt binder. In some embodiments, the biomaterial is substantially free of asphaltenes and saturates and includes greater than about 80.0 weight percent resins. In some embodiments, the low viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material includes a higher aromatic content and a lower asphaltene content than the aged asphalt binder.

[0049] The unique combination of the biomaterial (e.g., the ester bottoms material) and the low viscosity vacuum tower bottoms in the rejuvenation mixture may exhibit synergistic effects for rejuvenating the aged asphalt binder and forming the reclaimed asphalt pavement. The rejuvenation mixture may facilitate forming the rejuvenated asphalt binder having a desired SARA composition, even though the aged asphalt binder may constitute greater than about 50.0 weight percent of the rejuvenated asphalt binder, such as greater than about 60.0 weight percent, greater than about 70 weight percent, greater than about 80.0 weight percent, greater than about 85.0 weight percent, or even greater than about 90.0 weight percent of the rejuvenated asphalt binder. During the aging process, the composition of the asphalt binder changes as the saturate content and asphaltene content increases while the aromatic content and resin content decrease. The biomaterial, such as an ester bottoms material, includes at least about 90.0 weight percent resins, the remaining portion comprising aromatics; and is substantially free of saturates and asphaltenes. On their own, the resins and aromatics of the biomaterial do not fully restore the properties of the aged asphalt binder. The low viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material may be composed of at least about 25.0 weight percent of each of saturates and aromatics (e.g., about 30 weight percent saturates and about 40 weight percent aromatics), with resins and asphaltenes making up the remaining portion (e.g., about 15 weight percent of each of resins and asphaltenes). Combining the biomaterial with the low viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material facilitates rebalancing the composition of the aged asphalt by introducing components that change during the aging process (e.g., aromatics and resins) and to form the rejuvenated asphalt binder having a composition resembling a virgin asphalt binder. The rejuvenated asphalt binder including the rejuvenation mixture may exhibit a colloidal instability index substantially similar to an unaged (virgin) asphalt binder, and lower than that of the aged asphalt binder.

[0050] The rejuvenated asphalt binder comprising the aged asphalt binder and the rejuvenation mixture (comprising the biomaterial and the low viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material) may exhibit a lower shear modulus compared to the aged asphalt binder- Page 15 - 25ASPRi8-WO-PCTat both low and high loading frequencies, and at low temperatures. In addition, the rejuvenated asphalt binder may exhibit a phase angle higher than a phase angle of the aged asphalt binder. Further, and in embodiments where the rejuvenated asphalt binder comprises an unaged virgin asphalt binder, the rejuvenated asphalt binder may exhibit a lower shear modulus and a higher phase angle than the unaged virgin asphalt binder. The addition of the rejuvenation mixture also improves the low temperature relaxation properties of the rejuvenated asphalt binder. For example, the rejuvenation mixture may increase (e.g., make less negative) the ΔTCof both a 20-hour PAV aged and a 40-hour PAV aged rejuvenated asphalt binder compared to respective 20-hour PAV aged and 40-hour PAV aged asphalt binder. In addition, the rejuvenated asphalt binder may exhibit a lower Glover-Rowe Parameter (GRP) compared to an unaged virgin asphalt binder. The addition of the rejuvenation mixture to an aged asphalt binder reduces the GRP such that the rejuvenated asphalt binder has a GRP lower than that of the aged asphalt binder.

[0051] In addition, as described above, aging (e.g., oxidated aging) causes asphalt binders to increase in stiffness and decrease in phase angle. The biomaterial and the low viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material may soften the aged asphalt binder, and the biomaterial may restore (e.g., increase) the phase angle of the rejuvenated asphalt binder compared to the aged asphalt binder. However, the use of the biomaterial alone (without the low viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material) would require significantly higher quantities than the combination the biomaterial and the low viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material, which would lead to failing mass change specifications (e.g., which requires less than 1.00 percent mass change after RTFO aging) of the rejuvenated asphalt binder. Accordingly, the unique combination of the biomaterial (such as a biomaterial comprising an ester bottoms material having the specific composition and properties described herein) and the low viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material (having the specific composition and properties described herein) facilitates forming the rejuvenated asphalt binder having desired properties and a desirable composition, such that the rejuvenated asphalt binder meets performance grade specifications.

[0052] FIG. 1 is a simplified schematic of a system 100 for forming (producing, generating) one or more materials that may be used as a component of a blended cracking resistant asphalt binder, according to at least one embodiment of the disclosure. The system 100 may include one or more units configured to distill (refine) one or more crude oils and form one or more products therefrom. For example, the system 100 may include a first crude distillation unit 101a (also referred to as an “atmospheric crude distillation unit”)- Page 16 - 25ASPRi8-WO-PCTconfigured to distill (refine) a first crude oil 102a and form one or more products therefrom; and a second crude distillation unit 101b configured to distill a second crude oil 102b and form one or more products therefrom. The first crude distillation unit 101a and the second crude distillation unit 101b may be configured to refine the respective crude oil 102a, 102b into one or more components (e.g., fractions) based, at least in part, on the boiling point of the different components. The first crude distillation unit 101a and the second crude distillation unit 101b may collectively be referred to herein as the “crude distillation units 101” and the first crude oil 102a and the second crude oil 102b may collectively be referred to herein as “crude oil 102.” The first crude distillation unit 101a and the second crude distillation unit 101b may include a respective first atmospheric distillation tower 106a and a second atmospheric distillation tower 106b, which may collected by referred to herein as “atmospheric distillation towers 106.”

[0053] The properties of the crude oil 102 may depend on the type of crude oil 102 and may include any mixture of hydrocarbon materials. The crude oil 102 may be a low-density crude oil having an API gravity (wherein API gravity is equal to ( 141.5 / SG)- 131.5, wherein SG is the specific gravity) greater than about 40°, a medium-density crude oil having an API gravity between about 30° and about 40°, a high-density crude oil having an API gravity less than about 30°, or combinations thereof. In addition, the crude oil 102 may have a sulfur content, such as a sulfur content less than about 0.5 weight percent (e.g., a so-called “sweet” crude oil), a crude oil having a sulfur content greater than about 0.5 weight percent (e.g., a so-called “sour” crude oil), or combinations thereof. The crude oil 102 may include a paraffinic content, a naphthenic content, an aromatic content, or combinations thereof. The various fractions of the crude oil 102 may be separated from one another based on one or more of the density (gravity), the assay, or another property of the crude oil 102. Accordingly, the assay of the crude oil 102 may affect the fractions and the volume of different fractions of hydrocarbon products formed from the distillation of the crude oil 102. In some embodiments, the first crude distillation unit 101a and the second crude distillation unit 101b are configured to process different crude oils 102. For example, the first crude distillation unit 101a may be configured to process a first crude oil 102a and the second crude distillation unit 101b may be configured to process a second crude oil 102b having one or more different properties than the first crude oil 102a. In some embodiments, the first crude distillation unit 101a is configured to refine a first crude oil 102a having a lower density (higher API gravity) than the second crude oil 102b refined by the second crude distillation unit 101b.- Page 17 - 25ASPRi8-WO-PCT

[0054] Each of the crude distillation units 101 may include a furnace 104, which may also be referred to herein as a “crude furnace.” The furnace 104 may receive the crude oil 102 and provide thermal energy to the crude oil 102 to increase a temperature thereof prior to the crude oil 102 entering an atmospheric distillation tower 106 (also referred to herein as an “atmospheric distillation column” or a “crude tower”). The furnace 104 may include a cabin-type furnace, a cylindrical furnace, an A-frame furnace, or another type of furnace.

[0055] While FIG. 1 illustrates only certain components of the crude distillation units 101 and the system 100, it will be understood that the crude distillation units 101 and the system 100 may include components and devices in addition to those described. For example, the crude distillation units 101 may each include a desalter configured to remove salts and water from the crude oil 102 prior to introducing the crude oil 102 to the furnace 104 and the atmospheric distillation tower 106. In addition, the atmospheric distillation towers 106 may include additional streams (e.g., stripping steam, efflux streams, other streams) and may be in operable communication with one or more additional components (e.g., one or more pumps, heat exchangers). The system 100 may include pumps, valves, heat exchangers, or other process equipment for facilitating the recovery of hydrocarbon materials from the crude oil 102.

[0056] The first atmospheric distillation tower 106a may be configured to receive the heated first crude oil 102a from the furnace 104. A temperature of the first crude oil 102a entering the first atmospheric distillation tower 106a may be sufficient to facilitate separation of different components within the first crude oil 102a based on a boiling point range of the different components. The temperature of the first crude oil 102a entering the first atmospheric distillation tower 106a may be selected based, at least in part, on the composition of the first crude oil 102a (e.g., the crude assay), an operating pressure of the first atmospheric distillation tower 106a, and on the configuration (e.g., equipment, process units) of the system 100. By way of non-limiting example, the temperature of the first crude oil 102a may be within a range of from about 260°C (about 550°F) to about to 400°C (about 752°F), such as from about 260°C (about 550°F) to 315.6°C (about 600°F), from about 315.6°C (about 600°F) to about 343.3°C (about 650°F), from about 343.3°C (about 650°F) to about 371.1°C (about 700°F), or from about 371.1°C (about 700°F) to about 400°C (about 752°F). However, the disclosure is not so limited, and the temperature of the first crude oil 102a may be different than that described.

[0057] The first atmospheric distillation tower 106a may be configured to facilitate separation of the different components of the first crude oil 102a from one another to form- Page 18 - 25ASPRi8-WO-PCTone or more hydrocarbon fractions from the first crude oil 102a, each hydrocarbon fraction having a different boiling point range and / or one or more different properties than the other hydrocarbon fractions. The first atmospheric distillation tower 106a may include multiple trays including, for example, one or more of bubble cap trays, sieve trays, valve trays, or any other type of tray to facilitate vapor-liquid contact and separation based on boiling point. In some embodiments, the first atmospheric distillation tower 106a is configured to separate the first crude oil 102a into an overhead gaseous material 108 (also referred to as a “light ends” material), a light naphtha material 110, a heavy naphtha material 112, a jet material 114 (or a kerosene material), a diesel material 116, an atmospheric gas oil 118, and a first atmospheric tower bottoms material 120 (which may also be referred to as a first “atmospheric residue”). In some embodiments, the first atmospheric tower bottoms material 120 is a low viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material.

[0058] The overhead gaseous material 108 may include, for example, non-condensable gases and / or liquified petroleum gases (LPG). The non-condensable gases may include one or more of hydrogen, methane, ethane, propane, or butane. The liquified petroleum gas may include one or more of propane, butanes, and other hydrocarbon materials.

[0059] The light naphtha material 110 may include, for example, pentane, hexane, other Cs hydrocarbons, other Ce hydrocarbons, or combinations thereof. The C5 and Ce hydrocarbons may be paraffins (e.g., n-pentane, n-hexane), isoparaffins (e.g., isopentane, isohexane), naphthenes (cyclopentane, cyclohexane), aromatics (e.g., benzene), or combinations thereof. The light naphtha material 110 may have a boiling point range from about 35°C (about 95°F) to about 90°C (about 194°F) and a molecular weight range within a range of from about 70 g / mol to about 85 g / mol. As used herein, a “boiling point range” refers to the temperature interval over which a material (a mixture of different materials) transitions from liquid to vapor and may be measured using a distillation test, such as ASTMD86 orASTMD160.

[0060] The heavy naphtha material 112 may include, for example, C7 to C10 hydrocarbon materials and may include naphthenes, paraffins, higher aromatics (benzene, toluene, xylenes), or combinations thereof. The heavy naphtha material 112 may have a higher flash point, a higher boiling point range, a higher molecular weight, a higher density, and a higher viscosity than the light naphtha material 110. By way of non-limiting example, the heavy naphtha material 112 may have a boiling point range from about 90°C (about 194°F) to about 200°C (about 392°F) and a molecular weight within a range of from about 85 g / mol to about 120 g / mol.- Page 19 - 25ASPRi8-WO-PCT

[0061] The jet material 114 may include, for example, a mixture of paraffins (e.g., from about 50 volume percent to about 70 volume percent), naphthenes (e.g., from about 20 volume percent to about 30 volume percent), and aromatics (e.g., from about 10 volume percent to about 20 volume percent). The jet material 114 may include, for example, C9 to C17 hydrocarbons. A boiling point range of the jet material 114 may be from about 175°C to about 300°C; an endpoint temperature of about 300°C, and a minimum flash point of about 38°C. The jet material 114 may have a density within a range of from about 0.775 g / cm3to about 0.840 g / cm3; a freezing point of about -40°C or about -47°C; and a viscosity less than about 8.0 cSt at about -20°C.

[0062] The diesel material 116 may include, for example, a mixture of paraffins (e.g., from about 30 volume percent to about 50 volume percent), naphthenes (e.g., from about 20 volume percent to about 40 volume percent), aromatics (e.g., from about 10 volume percent to about 30 volume percent), and olefins (e.g., less than about 5 volume percent). The diesel material 116 may include, for example, C9 to C20 hydrocarbon materials. A boiling point range of the diesel material 116 may be from about 220°C to about 380°C, with an initial boiling point within a range of from about 160°C to about 180°C; and an endpoint within a range of from about 275°C to about 380°C. The diesel material 116 may exhibit a density within a range of from about 0.82 g / cm3to about 0.85 g / cm3; a cetane number between about 40 and about 55; a minimum flash point of about 52°C; and a viscosity between about 1.9 cSt and about 4.1 cSt at about 40°C.

[0063] The atmospheric gas oil (AGO) 118 may include C12 to C20 hydrocarbons. The atmospheric gas oil 118 may have a boiling point range of from about 250°C (e.g., about 270°C)to about 425°C (e.g., about 370°C). The atmospheric gas oil 118 may include a light gas oil, a heavy gas oil, or combinations thereof. The atmospheric gas oil 118 may exhibit a viscosity within a range of from about 2 cSt to about 10 cSt at about 40°C and a density within a range of from about 0.83 g / cm3to about 0.88 g / cm3.

[0064] The first atmospheric tower bottoms material 120a may include heavy atmospheric gas oil, asphaltenes, resins, polyaromatic hydrocarbons, and combinations thereof. The first atmospheric tower bottoms material 120a may have a boiling point range from about 343°C (about 650°F) to about 565.6°C (about l,050°F). In some embodiments, the first atmospheric tower bottoms material 120a exhibits an initial boiling temperature from about 343.3°C (about 650°F) to about 371.1°C (about 700°F). A final boiling point (endpoint) of the first atmospheric tower bottoms material 120a may be greater than about 565.6°C (about l,050°F). The first atmospheric tower bottoms material 120a may have a- Page 20 - 25ASPRi8-WO-PCTdensity within a range of from about 0.95 g / cm3to about 1.05 g / cm3; a pour point greater than about 30°C; a flash point greater than about 200°C; and a viscosity greater than about 1,000 cSt at about 100°C.

[0065] With continued reference to FIG. 1, the first atmospheric tower bottoms material 120a may be further processed to separate lighter fractions (e.g., fractions having a lower boiling point range than heavier fractions) from the heavier fractions (e.g., fractions having a higher boiling point range than the lighter fractions). In some embodiments, the first atmospheric tower bottoms material 120a is processed in a distillation column or tower having a pressure lower than atmospheric pressure. In some embodiments, the first atmospheric tower bottoms material 120a may be provided to a low vacuum distillation tower 124a (also referred to as a “vacuum tower” or a “vacuum separation tower”).

[0066] The low vacuum distillation tower 124a may be configured to receive the first atmospheric tower bottoms material 120a and separate the first atmospheric tower bottoms material 120a into one or more materials having different boiling point ranges, such as a first overhead vapor material 126a, a light vacuum gas oil (LVGO) 128 (also referred to as a “low vacuum gas oil”) a first medium vacuum gas oil (MVGO) 130a, and a low viscosity vacuum tower bottoms (LVTB) material 134 (also referred to as a “light vacuum tower bottoms material”). In some embodiments, the first atmospheric tower bottoms material 120 is heated in a furnace 122 prior to being provided to the low vacuum distillation tower 124a. The temperature of the first atmospheric tower bottoms material 120a provided to the low vacuum distillation tower 124a may be within a range of from about 343.4°C (about 650°F) to about 454.4°C (about 850°F). However the disclosure is not so limited and the temperature of the first atmospheric tower bottoms material 120a may be different than that described.

[0067] A pressure of the low vacuum distillation tower 124a may be within a range of from about 50 mmHg absolute to about 100 mmHg absolute, such as from about 50 mmHg absolute to about 60 mmHg absolute, from about 60 mmHg absolute to about 70 mmHg absolute, from about 70 mmHg absolute to about 80 mmHg absolute, from about 80 mmHg absolute to about 90 mmHg absolute, or from about 90 mmHg absolute to about 100 mmHg absolute. In some embodiments, one or more properties (e.g., a vacuum viscosity, a high temperature compliance, a low temperature compliance) of the low viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material 134 depends, at least in part, on the pressure of the low vacuum distillation tower 124a.- Page 21 - 25ASPRi8-WO-PCT

[0068] The first overhead vapor material 126a may include C1to C4hydrocarbon materials. The light vacuum gas oil 128 may have a boiling point ranging from about 343°C to about 455°C; and the first medium vacuum gas oil 130a may have a boiling point ranging from about 455°C to about 510°C.

[0069] The light vacuum gas oil 128 may exhibit a density within a range of from about 0.85 g / cm3to about 0.88 g / cm3; a viscosity within a range of from about 2 cSt to about 5 cSt at about 100°C, a pour point within a range of from about -23°C to about -1°C; an aromatic content within a range of from about 20 weight percent to about 40 weight percent; and a flash point greater than about 93 °C. The light vacuum gas oil 128 may be further processed in the system 100, such as in a hydrocracker, may be used as a blending component, or combinations thereof.

[0070] The first medium vacuum gas oil 130a may exhibit a density within a range of from about 0.88 g / cm3to about 0.91 g / cm3; a viscosity within a range of from about 5 cSt to about 10 cSt at about 100°C, a pour point within a range of from about -6°C to about 10°C; an aromatic content within a range of from about 30 weight percent to about 50 weight percent; and a flash point greater than about 121 °C. The first medium vacuum gas oil 130a may be further processed in the system 100, such as in a hydrocracker or a catalytic cracker, may be used as a blending component, or combinations thereof.

[0071] The low viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material 134 may exhibit a density within a range of from about 0.98 g / cm3to about 1.10 g / cm3; a viscosity within a range of from about 50 cSt to about 500 cSt at about 100°C; a pour point within a range of from about 27°C to about 65°C; and a flash point greater than about 149°C. However, the properties of the low viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material 134 are not so limited, and may be different than those described. The properties of the low viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material 134 may depend, at least in part, on the operating pressure of the vacuum distillation tower 124.

[0072] The low viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material 134 may have a vacuum viscosity within a range of from about 1 P to about 300 P at about 60°C, such as from about 1 P to about 200 P, or from about 10 P to about 300 P at about 60°C. The vacuum viscosity of the low viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material 134 may be within a range of from about 1 P to about 300 P at about 60°C, such as within a range of from about 1 P to about 10 P, from about 10 P to about 50 P, from about 50 P to about 100 P, from about 100 P to about 150 P, from about 150 P to about 200 P, from about 200 P to about 250 P, or from about 250 P to about 300 P at about 60°C. In some embodiments, the low viscosity vacuum- Page 22 - 25ASPRi8-WO-PCTtower bottoms material 134 has a vacuum viscosity less than about 300 P at about 60°C, such as less than about 250 P, less than about 200 P, less than about 150 P, less than about 100 P, less than about 50 P, less than about 25P, or even less than about 10P at about 60°C. In some embodiments, the vacuum viscosity of the low viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material 134 is less than about 200 P at about 60°C. In some embodiments, the vacuum viscosity of the low viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material 134 is within a range of from about 1 P to about 200 P at about 60°C. In some embodiments, the vacuum viscosity of the low viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material 134 is within a range of from about 10 P to about 300 P at about 60°C. As used herein, a vacuum viscosity refers to a viscosity measured according to ASTM D2171 (ASTM D217-07el, ASTM D2171 / D2171M-10, ASTM D2171 / D2171M-22) measured at 60°C, which method is used to determine viscosity of asphalt index by vacuum capillary viscometers

[0073] The low viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material 134 may include a bimodal distribution of C6to C25hydrocarbons and C25 to C35 hydrocarbons, as measured by using staged thermal extraction gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (TE GC-MS). The C6to C25hydrocarbons may be aliphatic and may be in the diesel range, and the C25 to C35 hydrocarbons may be aliphatic and may be in the vacuum gas oil range. As measured by pyrolysis gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (PY GC-MS), the low viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material 134 may include C4 to C23 hydrocarbons, such as a mixture of C4 to C23 olefinic and paraffinic hydrocarbons. In some embodiments, the low viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material 134 further includes up to C29 paraffins. The mixture of C4 to C23 olefinic and paraffinic hydrocarbons may include pairs of olefinic and paraffinic C4 to C23 hydrocarbons.

[0074] A distillation curve of the low viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material 134 may be determined according to, for example, ASTM D7169M. The low viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material 134 may have an initial boiling point within a range of from about 404°C (about 760°F) to about 426.7°C (about 800°F), such as from about 410°C (about 770°F) to about 423°C (about 794°F), or from about 413°C (about 775°F) to about 423°C (about 794°F). In some embodiments, the initial boiling point of the low viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material 134 is about 413°C (about 775°F).

[0075] A temperature at which about 10.0 weight percent of the low viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material 134 boils off (is evaporated) (a T10 temperature) may be within a range of from about 510°C (about 950 °F) to about 565.6°C (about l,050°F), such as from about 521°C (about 970°F) to about 554.4°C (about l,030°F), from about 526.7°C (about- Page 23 - 25ASPRi8-WO-PCT980°F) to about 548.9°C (about l,020°F), or from about 532.2°C (about 990°F) to about 543.3°C (about l,010°F). In some embodiments, the T10 temperature of the low viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material 134 is less than about 554.4°C (about l,030°F), such as less than about 548.9°C (about l,020°F), or less than about 543.3°C (about l,010°F). In some embodiments, the T10 temperature of the low viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material 134 is about 535°C (about 995°F).

[0076] A temperature at which about 30.0 weight percent of the low viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material 134 boils off (is evaporated) (a T30 temperature) may be within a range of from about 565.6°C (about l,050°F) to about 615.6°C (about l,140°F), such as from about 576.7°C (about l,070°F) to about 604.4°C (about l,120°F), or from about 582.2°C (about l,080°F) to about 598.9°C (about l,110°F). In some embodiments, the T30 temperature of the low viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material 134 is higher than about 565.6°C (about l,050°F), such as higher than about 576.7°C (about l,070°F). In some embodiments, the T30 temperature of the low viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material 134 is lower than about 615.6°C (about l,140°F), such as lower than about 604.4°C (about l,120°F), or lower than about 593.3°C (about l,100°F). In some embodiments, the T30 temperature of the low viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material 134 is about 587.8°C (about l,090°F).

[0077] A temperature at which about 50.0 weight percent of the low viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material 134 boils off (is evaporated) (a T50 temperature) may be within a range of from about 621.1°C (about l,150°F) to about 676.7°C (about l,250°F), or from about 598.9°C (about 1, 110°F) to about 654.4°C (about l,210°F), such as from about 610°C (about l,130°F) to about 643.3°C (about l,190°F), or from about 621°C (about l,150°F) to about 632.2°C (about l,170°F). In some embodiments, the T50 temperature of the low viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material 134 is less than about 648.9°C (about l,200°F), such as less than about 637.8°C (about l,180°F), or less than about 632.2°C (about l,170°F).

[0078] A temperature at which about 70.0 weight percent of the low viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material 134 boils off (is evaporated) (a T70 temperature) may be within a range of from about 643.3°C (about l,190°F) to about 698.9°C (about l,290°F), such as from about 654.4°C (about l,210°F) to about 687.8°C (about l,270°F), or from about 665.6°C (about l,230°F) to about 676.7°C (about l,250°F). In some embodiments, the T70 temperature of the low viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material 134 is less than about 682.2°C (about l,260°F), such as less than about 676.7°C (about l,250°F).- Page 24 - 25ASPRi8-WO-PCT

[0079] A temperature at which about 90.0 weight percent of the low viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material 134 boils off (is evaporated) (a T90 temperature) may be within a range of from about 676.7°C (about l,250°F) to about 726.7°C (about l,340°F), or from about 690.6°C (about 1,275°F) to about 735°C (about 1,355°F), such as from about 698.9°C (about l,290°F) to about 726.7°C (about l,340°F), or from about 707.2°C (about l,305°F) to about 718.3°C (about 1,325°F). In some embodiments, the T90 temperature of the low viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material 134 is less than about 732.2°C (about l,350°F), such as less than about 726.7°C (about l,340°F), less than about 721.1 °C (about l,330°F), or less than about 715.6°C (about l,320°F).

[0080] An endpoint temperature of the low viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material 134 (a temperature at which substantially all of the low viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material 134 evaporates) may be within a range of from about 704.4°C (about l,300°F) to about 748.9°C (about l,380°F), such as from about 732.2°C (about l,350°F) to about 743.3°C (about l,370°F). In some embodiments, the endpoint temperature of the low viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material 134 is within a range of from about 715.6°C (about l,320°F) to about 771.1°C (about l,420°F), such as from about 726.7°C (about l,340°F) to about 760°C (about l,400°F), or from about 737.8°C (about l,360°F) to about 748.9°C (about l,380°F). In some embodiments, the endpoint temperature of the low viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material 134 is less than about 760°C (about l,400°F), such as less than about 754.4°C (about l,390°F), or less than about 748.9°C (about l,380°F).

[0081] A composition of the low viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material 134 may be measured according to the IP 469 standard for determining the composition of saturates, aromatic, and polar compounds (including resins and asphaltenes) (a SARA analysis). A saturate content of the low viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material 134 may be within a range of from about 20.0 weight percent to about 35.0 weight percent, such as from about 20.0 weight percent to about 25.0 weight percent, from about 25.0 weight percent to about 30.0 weight percent, or from about 30.0 weight percent to about 35.0 weight percent. In some embodiments, the saturate content of the low viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material 134 is from about 22.0 weight percent to about 24.0 weight percent to about 33.0 weight percent, from about 25.0 weight percent to about 32.0 weight percent, from about 27.0 weight percent to about 29.0 weight percent, or from about 26.1 weight percent to about 31.0 weight percent. In some embodiments, saturates constitute from about 26.1 weight percent to about 31.0 weight percent of the low viscosity vacuum tower bottoms- Page 25 - 25ASPRi8-WO-PCTmaterial 134. In some embodiments, saturates constitute greater than about 25.0 weight percent of the low viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material 134, such as greater than about 27.0 weight percent, or greater than about 30.0 weight percent of the low viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material 134.

[0082] Aromatics may constitute from about 30.0 weight percent to about 50.0 weight percent, of the low viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material 134, such as from about 30.0 weight percent to about 35.0 weight percent, from about 35.0 weight percent to about 40.0 weight percent, from about 40.0 weight percent to about 45.0 weight percent, or from about 45.0 weight percent to about 50.0 weight percent of the low viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material 134. In some embodiments, aromatics constitute from about 38.9 weight percent to about 43.7 weight percent of the low viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material 134. Aromatics may constitute greater than about 30.0 weight percent of the low viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material 134, such as greater than about 35.0 weight percent, or greater than about 40.0 weight percent of the low viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material 134.

[0083] Resins may constitute from about 10.0 weight percent to about 25.0 weight percent of the low viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material 134, such as from about 10.0 weight percent to about 15.0 weight percent, from about 15.0 weight percent to about 20.0 weight percent, or from about 20.0 weight percent to about 25.0 weight percent of the low viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material 134. In some embodiments, resins constitute from about 15.5 weight percent to about 16.5 weight percent of the low viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material 134. A resin content of the low viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material 134 may be less than about 25.0 weight percent, such as less than about 20.0 weight percent.

[0084] Asphaltenes may constitute from about 10.0 weight percent to about 20.0 weight percent of the low viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material 134, such as from about 10.0 weight percent to about 12.0 weight percent, from about 12.0 weight percent to about 15.0 weight percent, or from about 15.0 weight percent to about 20.0 weight percent of the low viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material 134. In some embodiments, asphaltenes constitute from about 13.0 to about 14.5 weight percent of the low viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material 134. In some embodiments, asphaltenes constitute less than about 15.0 weight percent of the low viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material 134. In some embodiments, the low viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material 134 includes from about 26.1 weight percent to about 31.0 weight percent saturates; from about 38.9 weight percent to about 43.7 weight percent aromatics; from about 15.5 weight percent to about 16.5- Page 26 - 25ASPRi8-WO-PCTweight percent resins; and from about 13.0 weight percent to about 14.5 weight percent asphaltenes.

[0085] A colloidal index (CI) of the low viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material 134 may be within a range of from about 0.90 to about 1.50, such as from about 0.90 to about 1.0, from about 1.0 to about 1.2, from about 1.2 to about 1.4, or from about 1.4 to about 1.5. In some embodiments, the colloidal index of the low viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material is greater than about 1.0, such as greater than about 1.1, or greater than about 1.2. The colloidal index may be a representation of a likelihood of the low viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material 134 to form sediments due to instability of the asphaltene particles therein, wherein a lower colloidal index corresponds to a lower likelihood of sedimentation and instability of the material. The colloidal index is calculated as the ratio between the aromatics and the resins to the asphaltenes and the saturates (i.e., colloidal index = (weight percent aromatics + weight percent resins) / (weight percent asphaltenes + weight percent saturates)). The colloidal instability index (CII) is the reciprocal of the colloidal index (i.e., colloidal instability index = (weight percent saturates + weight percent asphaltenes) / (weight percent resins + weight percent aromatics)). Generally, a lower CII indicates a greater stability (e.g., reduced tendency to precipitate asphaltenes), with a CII value lower than about 0.7 indicated stable asphaltenes. The colloidal instability index of the low viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material 134 may be within a range of from about 0.6 to about 1.1, such as within a range of from about 0.67 to about 0.80, from about 0.80 to about 0.90, from about 0.90 to about 1.0, or from about 1.0 to about 1.1.

[0086] With continued reference to FIG. 1, the second crude distillation unit 101b may be substantially the same as the first crude distillation unit 101a, but may be configured to process a second crude oil 102b having one or more different properties than the first crude oil 102a. The second atmospheric distillation tower 106b may be substantially the same as the first atmospheric distillation tower 106a, but may be configured to process the second crude oil 102b having one or more different properties than the first crude oil 102a. In some embodiments, the first atmospheric distillation tower 106a and the second atmospheric distillation tower 106b are configured to be operated at different conditions (e.g., temperature, pressure) than one another. In some embodiments, the second crude oil 102b is a heavier crude oil than the first crude oil 102a, and the temperature of the second atmospheric distillation tower 106b is higher than the temperature of the first atmospheric distillation tower 106a.- Page 27 - 25ASPRi8-WO-PCT

[0087] The second atmospheric distillation tower 106b may be configured to form a second atmospheric tower bottoms material 120b having one or more different properties than the first atmospheric tower bottoms material 120a. In some embodiments, due to the different compositions of the first crude oil 102a and the second crude oil 102b, the properties (e.g., the distillation points, the distillation curves, the flash points, the freeze points, the pour points, the vapor pressure, the density, the sulfur content, other properties) of the overhead gaseous material 108, the light naphtha material 110, the heavy naphtha material 112, the jet material 114, the diesel material 116, the atmospheric gas oil 118, and / or the atmospheric tower bottoms materials 120 of the first atmospheric distillation tower 106a and the second atmospheric distillation tower 106b may be different from one another.

[0088] In some embodiments, the first atmospheric tower bottoms material 120a exhibits a lower density, lower distillation points (e.g., a lower 10 percent point, a lower 50 percent point, a lower 90 percent point, a lower endpoint), a lower flash point, and a lower sulfur content than the second atmospheric tower bottoms material 120b. In addition, in some embodiments, the second atmospheric tower bottoms material 120b may include a greater asphaltene content and a greater resin content than the first atmospheric tower bottoms material 120a. The first atmospheric tower bottoms material 120a may exhibit a higher paraffinic content than the second atmospheric tower bottoms material 120b.

[0089] In some embodiments, the second atmospheric tower bottoms material 120b exhibits a higher vacuum viscosity than the first atmospheric tower bottoms material 120a. A viscosity of the first atmospheric tower bottoms material 120a may be within a range of from about 100 cSt to about 1,000 cSt at about 100°C, and the viscosity of the second atmospheric tower bottoms material 120b may be greater than about 1,000 cSt at about 100°C.

[0090] As described above with reference to the first atmospheric tower bottoms material 120a, the second atmospheric tower bottoms material 120b may be further processed to separate the lighter fractions from the heavier fractions. In some embodiments, the second atmospheric tower bottoms material 120b is processed in a high vacuum distillation tower 124b. The high vacuum distillation tower 124b may be operated at a lower pressure (a higher vacuum) than the low vacuum distillation tower 124a. In some embodiments, the high vacuum distillation tower 124b is operated at a pressure within a range of from about 5 mmHg absolute to about 50 mmHg absolute, such as from about 5 mmHg to about 10- Page 28 - 25ASPRi8-WO-PCTmmHg, from about 10 mmHg absolute to about 25 mmHg absolute, or from about 25 mmHg absolute to about 50 mmHg absolute.

[0091] The high vacuum distillation tower 124b may be configured to receive the second atmospheric tower bottoms material 120b and separate the second atmospheric tower bottoms material 120b into a second overhead vapor material 126b, a second medium vacuum gas oil 130b, a heavy vacuum gas oil (HVGO) 132 (also referred to as a “high vacuum gas oil”), and a high viscosity vacuum tower bottoms (HVTB) material 150 (also referred to as a “high vacuum tower bottoms material”). The second overhead vapor material 126b and the second medium vacuum gas oil 130b may be substantially the same as the first overhead vapor material 126a and the first medium vacuum gas oil 130a described above. The second overhead vapor material 126b and the second medium vacuum gas oil 130b may be substantially the same as those described above with reference to FIG. 1.

[0092] The heavy vacuum gas oil 132 may have a boiling point ranging from about 510°C to about 566°C; and the high viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material 150 may have a boiling point range greater than about 566°C. In some embodiments, the boiling point range of the heavy vacuum gas oil 132 may be different than that described above and may be, for example, from about 455°C to about 566°C. The heavy vacuum gas oil 132 may exhibit a density within a range of from about 0.91 g / cm3to about 0.95 g / cm3; a viscosity within a range of from about 10 cSt to about 20 cSt at about 100°C, a pour point within a range of from about 10°C to about 27°C; an aromatic content within a range of from about 40 weight percent to about 60 weight percent; and a flash point greater than about 149°C. The heavy vacuum gas oil 132 may be further processed in the system 100, such as in a hydrocracker or a catalytic cracker, may be used as a blending component, or combinations thereof.

[0093] A composition of the heavy vacuum gas oil 132 may be measured according to the IP 469 standard for determining the composition of saturates, aromatic, and polar compounds (including resins and asphaltenes). In some embodiments, the composition of the heavy vacuum gas oil 132 is measured using a SARA analysis. In some embodiments, the heavy vacuum gas oil 132 includes from about 46.0 weight percent to about 55.0 weight percent saturates, from about 34.0 weight percent to about 46.0 weight percent aromatics, from about 7.0 weight percent to about 15.0 weight percent resins, and from about 0.0 weight percent to about 1.0 weight percent asphaltenes.

[0094] Saturates may constitute from about 40.0 weight percent to about 60.0 weight percent of the heavy vacuum gas oil 132; aromatics may constitute from about 30.0 weight- Page 29 - 25ASPRi8-WO-PCTpercent to about 50.0 weight percent of the heavy vacuum gas oil 132; resins may constitute from about 5.0 weight percent to about 20.0 weight percent of the heavy vacuum gas oil 132; and asphaltenes may constitute from about 0.0 weight percent to about 2.0 weight percent of the heavy vacuum gas oil 132. In some embodiments, saturates constitute from about 46.0 weight percent to about 55.0 weight percent of the heavy vacuum gas oil 132, aromatics constitute from about 34.0 weight percent to about 46.0 weight percent of the heavy vacuum gas oil 132, resins constitute from about 7.0 weight percent to about 15.0 weight percent of the heavy vacuum gas oil 132, and the heavy vacuum gas oil 132 is free of (e.g., substantially free of) asphaltenes. A colloidal index of the heavy vacuum gas oil 132 may be within a range of from about 0.8 to about 1.2, such as from about 0.8 to about 1.0, or from about 1.0 to about 1.2.

[0095] The composition of the heavy vacuum gas oil 132 may be measured using staged thermal extraction gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (TE GC-MS) and / or using pyrolysis gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (PY GC-MS). As measured by staged thermal extraction gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, the heavy vacuum gas oil 132 may include C11to C33hydrocarbons (e.g., C11to C33vacuum gas oil-range aliphatic materials). The heavy vacuum gas oil 132 may further include a range of aliphatic materials including C18materials, trace 3 or 4 ring aromatics and thiophenes, as determined by TE GC-MS. In some embodiments, the heavy vacuum gas oil 132 includes a greater weight percent of Cis hydrocarbons than other hydrocarbons, such as hydrocarbons in the C11to C33range. As measured by pyrolysis gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, the heavy vacuum gas oil 132 may not include appreciable organic materials.

[0096] The high viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material 150 may have a vacuum viscosity within a range of from about 60,000 P to about 200,000 P, such as from about 60,000 P to about 100,000 P, from about 100,000 P to about 150,000 P, or from about 150,000 P to about 200,000 P. The vacuum viscosity is measured at a temperature of 60°C. In some embodiments, the high viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material 150 has a vacuum viscosity greater than about 60,000 P, such as greater than about 100,000 P, or greater than about 150,000 P at 60°C. In some embodiments, the high viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material 150 does not flow at room temperature (e.g., at a temperature within a range of from about 20°C to about 25°C).

[0097] The high viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material 150 may exhibit a high temperature compliance (as measured by DSR) greater than about 85°C. For example, the high temperature compliance of the high viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material 150 may- Page 30 - 25ASPRi8-WO-PCTbe within a range of from about 85°C to about 95°C, such as from about 85°C to about 87°C, from about 87°C to about 90°C, from about 90°C to about 92°C, or from about 92°C to about 95°C. In some embodiments, the high temperature compliance of the high viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material 150 is within a range of from about 87°C to about 95°C. The high temperature compliance of the high viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material 150 may be greater than about 87°C, such as greater than about 90°C, or greater than about 92°C.

[0098] A low temperature compliance of an unaged and / or a 20-hour PAV aged high viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material 150 may be less than or equal to 0°C, such as within a range of from about -9°C to about 0°C, such as from about -9°C to about -6°C, from about -6°C to about -3°C, or from about -3°C to about 0°C. The low temperature compliance of a 20-hour PAV aged high viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material 150 may be less than about 0°C, such as less than about -3 °C, or less than about -6°C. A usable temperature range of the high viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material 150 may be greater than about 90°C, such as greater than about 92°C, greater than about 93 °C, greater than about 94°C, greater than about 95°C, or even greater than about 96°C.

[0099] A ΔTc(e.g., after 20-hour PAV aging or after 40-hour PAV aging) of the high viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material 150 may be greater than about -5°C. In other words, a minimum ΔTcof the high viscosity vacuum tower bottoms may be about -5°C. As used herein, a ΔTcthat is greater or higher than a negative temperature (e.g., -5°C) is closer to 0°C than the negative temperature. In some embodiments, the ΔTcof a 20-hour PAV aged or a 40-hour PAV aged high viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material 150 is greater than about -5°C, such as greater than about -4°C, -2°C, or 0°C. In other words, the ΔTcof the high viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material 150 may be higher than about -5°C after aging for 20 hours and after aging for 40 hours in a PAV. In some embodiments, the ΔTcof the high viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material 150 after 20 hours of PAV aging is higher than about -3.0°C, or even higher than about -2.5°C. The ΔTcof the high viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material 150 after 40 hours of PAV aging is higher than about -4.5°C, such as higher than about -4.0°C, or higher than about -3.5°C. In some embodiments, the ΔTcof the high viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material 150 after PAV aging for 20 hours or 40 hours is greater than about -5°C, such as greater than about -4°C, -2°C, or 0°C.

[0100] The distillation curve of the high viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material 150 may be determined according to, for example, ASTM D7169M. In some embodiments, each of the initial boiling point, the T10 temperature, the T30 temperature, the T50- Page 31 - 25ASPRi8-WO-PCTtemperature, the T70 temperature, the T90 temperature, and the endpoint of the high viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material 150 is higher than that of the low viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material 134.

[0101] The high viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material 150 may have an initial boiling point within a range of from about 480°C (about 896°F) to about 510°C (about 950°F), such as from about 490°C (about 914°F) to about 500°C (about 932°F). In some embodiments, the initial boiling point of the high viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material 150 may be higher than about 480°C (about 896°F), or higher than about 490°C (about 914°F). In some embodiments, the initial boiling point of the high viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material 150 is about 482.2°C (about 900°F). A temperature at which about 10.0 weight percent of the high viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material 150 boils off (is evaporated) (a T10 temperature) may be within a range of from about 537.8°C (about 1,000°F) to about 593.3°C (about 1,100°F), such as from about 540°C (about 1,004°F) to about 590°C (about 1,094°F), from about 550°C (about 1,022°F) to about 580°C (about 1,076°F), or from about 555°C (about 1,031°F) to about 570°C (about 1,058°F). In some embodiments, the T10 temperature of the high viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material 150 is higher than about 540°C (about 1,004°F), such as higher than about 550°C (about 1,022°F). In some embodiments, the T10 temperature of the high viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material 150 is about 563°C (about 1045°F).

[0102] A temperature at which about 30.0 weight percent of the high viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material 150 boils off (is evaporated) (a T30 temperature) may be within a range of from about 593.3°C (about 1,100°F) to about 648.9°C (about 1,200°F), such as from about 600°C (about 1,112°F) to about 640°C (about 1,184°F), or from about 610°C (about 1,130°F) to about 630°C (about 1,166°F). In some embodiments, the T30 temperature of the high viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material 150 is higher than about 600°C (about 1,112°F), such as higher than about 610°C (about 1,130°F). In some embodiments, the T30 temperature of the high viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material 150 is about 621 °C (about 1150°F).

[0103] A temperature at which about 50.0 weight percent of the high viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material 150 boils off (is evaporated) (a T50 temperature) may be within a range of from about 648.9°C (about 1,200°F) to about 687.8°C (about 1,270°F), such as from about 650°C (about 1,202°F) to about 685°C (about 1,265°F), or from about 655°C (about 1,211°F) to about 675°C (about 1,247°F). In some embodiments, the T50 temperature of the high viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material 150 is higher than about- Page 32 - 25ASPRi8-WO-PCT650°C (about 1,202°F), such as higher than about 655°C (about 1,211°F). In some embodiments, the T50 temperature of the high viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material 150 is about 665°C (about 1229°F).

[0104] A temperature at which about 70.0 weight percent of the high viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material 150 boils off (is evaporated) (a T70 temperature) may be within a range of from about 687.8°C (about 1,270°F) to about 721.1°C (about 1,330°F), such as from about 690°C (about 1,274°F) to about 720°C (about 1,328°F), or from about 695°C (about 1,283°F) to about 715°C (about 1,319°F). In some embodiments, the T70 temperature of the high viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material 150 is higher than about 690°C (about 1,274°F), such as higher than about 695°C (about 1,283°F). In some embodiments, the T70 temperature of the high viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material 150 is about 704°C (about 1299°F).

[0105] A temperature at which about 90.0 weight percent of the high viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material 150 boils off (is evaporated) (a T90 temperature) may be within a range of from about 760.0°C (about 1,400°F) to about 787.8°C (about 1,450°F), such as from about 765.6°C (about 1,410°F) to about 782.2°C (about 1,440°F). In some embodiments, the T90 temperature of the high viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material 150 is higher than about 760.0°C (about 1,400°F), such as higher than about 771.1°C (about 1,420°F).

[0106] An endpoint temperature of the high viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material 150 (a temperature at which substantially all of the high viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material 150 evaporates) may be within a range of from about 787.8°C (about 1,450°F) to about 843.3°C (about 1,550°F), such as from about 804.4°C (about 1,480°F) to about 826.7°C (about 1,520°F). In some embodiments, the endpoint temperature of the high viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material 150 is higher than about 810°C (about 1,490°F), such as higher than about 815.6°C (about 1,500°F). In some embodiments, the endpoint temperature of the high viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material 150 is about 820°C (about 1,508°F).

[0107] A composition of the high viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material 150 may be measured according to the IP 469 standard for determining the composition of saturates, aromatic, and polar compounds (including resins and asphaltenes) (a SARA analysis). As measured by the IP 469 standard, in some embodiments, the high viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material 150 includes from about 3.0 weight percent to about 5.0 weight percent saturates, from about 30.0 weight percent to about 45.0 weight percent aromatics, from- Page 33 - 25ASPRi8-WO-PCTabout 29.0 weight percent to about 45.0 weight percent resins, and from about 21.0 weight percent to about 25.0 weight percent asphaltenes. However, the disclosure is not so limited, and the composition of the high viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material 150 may be different than that described.

[0108] The high viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material 150 may include a lower weight percent of saturates than the low viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material 134. Saturates may constitute at least about 2.0 weight percent of the high viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material 150, such as at least about 3.0 weight percent of the high viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material 150. Saturates may constitute from about 2.0 weight percent to about 10.0 weight percent of the high viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material 150, such as from about 2.0 weight percent to about 3.0 weight percent, from about 3.0 weight percent to about 4.0 weight percent, from about 4.0 weight percent to about 5.0 weight percent, from about 5.0 weight percent to about 7.0 weight percent, or from about 7.0 weight percent to about 10.0 weight percent of the high viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material 150. In some embodiments, saturates constitute from about 3.0 weight percent to about 5.0 weight percent of the high viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material 150.

[0109] The high viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material 150 may include a lower weight percent of aromatics than the low viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material 134. Aromatics may constitute at least about 20.0 weight percent of the high viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material 150, such as at least about 25.0 weight percent, or at least about 30.0 weight percent of the high viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material 150. Aromatics may constitute from about 20.0 weight percent to about 50.0 weight percent of the high viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material 150, such as from about 20.0 weight percent to about 30.0 weight percent, from about 30.0 weight percent to about 35.0 weight percent, from about 35.0 weight percent to about 40.0 weight percent, from about 40.0 weight percent to about 45.0 weight percent, or from about 45.0 weight percent to about 50.0 weight percent of the high viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material 150. In some embodiments, aromatics constitute from about 30.0 weight percent to about 45.0 weight percent of the high viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material 150.

[0110] In some embodiments, the high viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material 150 includes a higher weight percent of resins than the low viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material 134. Resins may constitute at least about 20.0 weight percent of the high viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material 150, such as at least about 25.0 weight percent of the high viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material 150. Resins may constitute from about 20.0- Page 34 - 25ASPRi8-WO-PCTweight percent to about 50.0 weight percent of the high viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material 150, such as from about 20.0 weight percent to about 29.0 weight percent, from about 29.0 weight percent to about 35.0 weight percent, from about 35.0 weight percent to about 40.0 weight percent, from about 40.0 weight percent to about 45.0 weight percent, or from about 45.0 weight percent to about 50.0 weight percent of the high viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material 150. In some embodiments, resins constitute from about 29.0 weight percent to about 45.0 weight percent of the high viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material 150.

[0111] The high viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material 150 may include a higher weight percent of asphaltenes than the low viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material 134. Asphaltenes may constitute at least about 15.0 weight percent of the high viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material 150, such as at least about 20.0 weight percent of the high viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material 150. Asphaltenes may constitute from about 15.0 weight percent to about 35.0 weight percent of the high viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material 150, such as from about 15.0 weight percent to about 18.0 weight percent, from about 18.0 weight percent to about 21.0 weight percent, from about 21.0 weight percent to about 23.0 weight percent, from about 23.0 weight percent to about 25.0 weight percent, from about 25.0 weight percent to about 27.0 weight percent, from about 27.0 weight percent to about 30.0 weight percent, or from about 30.0 weight percent to about 35.0 weight percent of the high viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material 150. In some embodiments, asphaltenes constitute from about 21.0 weight percent to about 25.0 weight percent of the high viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material 150.

[0112] The high viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material 150 may exhibit a colloidal instability index (CII) within a range of from about 0.30 to about 0.40, such as from about 0.30 to about 0.35, or from about 0.35 to about 0.40. A colloidal index of the high viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material 150 may be within a range of from about 2.5 to about 3.3, such as from about 2.5 to about 2.7, from about 2.7 to about 2.9, from about 2.9 to about 3.1, or from about 3.1 to about 3.3.

[0113] As described herein, in some embodiments, at least a portion of the low viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material 134 may be used as a component of a rejuvenation mixture used to rejuvenate an aged asphalt binder to form a reclaimed asphalt pavement. In some embodiments, a portion of the low viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material 134 may be further processed in an asphalt processing system configured to remove (e.g., strip, extract) asphaltenes and heavier residual components from at least a portion of the low viscosity- Page 35 - 25ASPRi8-WO-PCTvacuum tower bottoms material 134 to produce a first deasphalted oil (DAO)) and a hard asphalt (also referred to as “pitch,” or “0-10 pen” (short for 0-10 dmm penetration), such as solvent deasphalting (SDA) pitch and / or propane deasphalting (PDA) pitch). The asphalt processing system may include a solvent including propane, a mixture of n-butane and isobutane, or another solvent. In some embodiments, the solvent of includes a mixture of n-butane and isobutane and the hard asphalt includes SDA pitch.

[0114] As described above, at least a portion of the low viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material 134 may be provided as a component of a rejuvenation mixture that is mixed with a recycled asphalt pavement to facilitate rejuvenating the aged asphalt binder of the recycled asphalt pavement. FIG. 2Ais a simplified flow diagram illustrating a system 200 for forming a rejuvenation mixture 202 from a low viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material 204 and a biomaterial 206, according to at least one embodiment of the disclosure. The rejuvenation mixture 202 is formed by mixing the low viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material 204 with the biomaterial 206. As illustrated in FIG. 2A, in some embodiments, the low viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material 204 and the biomaterial 206 may be provided to a tank 208 separately. The tank 208 may include a mixing tank comprising one or more mixers (e.g., agitators) configured to mix the low viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material 204 and the biomaterial 206 to form the rejuvenation mixture 202. The rejuvenation mixture 202 may be formed by mixing the low viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material 204 and the biomaterial 206 in the tank 208. In some embodiments, the rejuvenation mixture 202 is formed in-situ by mixing the low viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material 204 with the biomaterial 206 in-situ, such as by forming the rejuvenation mixture 202 by in-line mixing. In some embodiments, at least one component of the rejuvenation mixture 202 (e.g., the low viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material 204) is directly blended (such as from a process unit (e.g., the low vacuum distillation tower 124a)) to form the rejuvenation mixture 202 without providing the at least one component to the tank 208. In other words, one or more components of the rejuvenation mixture 202 may be directly mixed after processing in the system 100.

[0115] In some embodiments, the rejuvenation mixture 202 comprises, consists essentially of, or consists of the low viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material 204 and the biomaterial 206. Stated another way, the rejuvenation mixture 202 may not include additional additives (e.g., may be free of heavy gas oil, high viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material, or other components that may form part of a straight run asphalt binder).- Page 36 - 25ASPRi8-WO-PCT

[0116] The low viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material 204 may constitute from about 1.0 weight percent to about 95.0 weight percent of the rejuvenation mixture 202, such as from about 1.0 weight percent to about 10.0 weight percent, from about 10.0 weight percent to about 20.0 weight percent, from about 20.0 weight percent to about 25.0 weight percent, from about 25.0 weight percent to about 30.0 weight percent, from about 30.0 weight percent to about 35.0 weight percent, from about 35.0 weight percent to about 40.0 weight percent, from about 40.0 weight percent to about 50.0 weight percent, from about 50.0 weight percent to about 60.0 weight percent, from about 60.0 weight percent to about 80.0 weight percent, or from about 80.0 weight percent to about 95.0 weight percent of the rejuvenation mixture. In some embodiments, the low viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material 204 constitutes from about 40.0 weight percent to about 60.0 weight percent of the rejuvenation mixture 202, such as from about 40.0 weight percent to about 50.0 weight percent, or from about 50.0 weight percent to about 60.0 weight percent of the rejuvenation mixture 202.

[0117] The biomaterial 206 may constitute from about 1.0 weight percent to about 95.0 weight percent of the rejuvenation mixture 202, such as from about 1.0 weight percent to about 10.0 weight percent, from about 10.0 weight percent to about 20.0 weight percent, from about 20.0 weight percent to about 25.0 weight percent, from about 25.0 weight percent to about 30.0 weight percent, from about 30.0 weight percent to about 35.0 weight percent, from about 35.0 weight percent to about 40.0 weight percent, from about 40.0 weight percent to about 45.0 weight percent, from about 45.0 weight percent to about 55.0 weight percent, from about 55.0 weight percent to about 65.0 weight percent, from about 65.0 weight percent to about 75.0 weight percent, or from about 75.0 weight percent to about 95.0 weight percent of the rejuvenation mixture 202. In some embodiments, the biomaterial 206 constitutes from about 40.0 weight percent to about 60.0 weight percent of the rejuvenation mixture 202, such as from about 40.0 weight percent to about 50.0 weight percent, or from about 50.0 weight percent to about 60.0 weight percent of the rejuvenation mixture 202. In some embodiments, a weight percent of the biomaterial 206 in the rejuvenation mixture 202 is higher than a weight percent of the low viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material 204 in the rejuvenation mixture 202. In some embodiments, a weight percent of the biomaterial 206 in the rejuvenation mixture 202 is about the same as a weight percent of the low viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material 204 in the rejuvenation mixture 202. In some embodiments, the biomaterial 206 constitutes from about 50.0 weight percent to about 60.0 weight percent of the rejuvenation mixture 202; and the low viscosity vacuum- Page 37 - 25ASPRi8-WO-PCTtower bottoms material 204 comprises from about 40.0 weight percent to about 50.0 weight percent of the rejuvenation mixture 202. In some embodiments, the biomaterial 206 constitutes about 50 weight percent of the rejuvenation mixture 202 and the low viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material 204 constitutes about 50 weight percent of the rejuvenation mixture 202.

[0118] A weight ratio of the low viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material 204 to the biomaterial 206 in the rejuvenation mixture 202 may be within a range of from about 1.0:40.0 to about 50.0:1.0, such as from about 1.0:50.0 to about 1.0:40.0, from about 1.0:40.0 to about 1.0:30.0, from about 1.0:30.0 to about 1.0:20.0, from about 1.0:20.0 to about 1.0:10.0, from about 1.0:10.0 to about 1.0:5.0, from about 1.0:5.0 to about 1.0:1.0, from about 1.0: 1.0 to about 5.0: 1.0, from about 5.0: 1.0 to about 10.0:1.0, from about 10.0:1.0 to about 20.0:1.0, from about 20.0:1.0 to about 30.0:1.0, or from about 30.0:1.0 to about 40.0:1.0. In other words, for every about 1.0 part by weight of the low viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material 204, the rejuvenation mixture 202 may include from about 0.025 part by weight to about 50.0 parts by weight of the biomaterial 206. In some embodiments, the rejuvenation mixture 202 includes from about 1.0 to about 1.2 parts by weight of the biomaterial 206 for every about 1.0 part by weight of the low viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material 204. In some embodiments, the rejuvenation mixture 202 includes about 1.0 part by weight of the biomaterial 206 for every about 1.0 part by weight of the low viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material 204.

[0119] The low viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material 204 may be the same as the low viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material 134 described above. By way of non-limiting example, the low viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material 204 may have a vacuum viscosity within a range of 1 P to about 300 P at about 60°C, such as a vacuum viscosity range of from about 1 P to about 200 P or a vacuum viscosity within a range of from about 10 P to about 300 P at about 60°C. In some embodiments, the vacuum viscosity of the low viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material 204 is less than about 200 P at about 60°C, such as less than about 100 P at about 60°C. The low viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material 204 may include a bimodal distribution of C6to C25hydrocarbons and C25 to C35 hydrocarbons, as measured by TE GC-MS. The C6to C25hydrocarbons may be aliphatic and may be in the diesel range, and the C25 to C35 hydrocarbons may be aliphatic and may be in the vacuum gas oil range. As measured by PY GC-MS, the low viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material 204 may include C4 to C23 hydrocarbons, such as a mixture of C4 to C23 olefinic and paraffinic hydrocarbons. In some embodiments, the low viscosity- Page 38 - 25ASPRi8-WO-PCTvacuum tower bottoms material 204 further includes up to C29 paraffins. The mixture of C4 to C23 olefinic and paraffinic hydrocarbons may include pairs of olefinic and paraffinic C4 to C23 hydrocarbons.

[0120] The biomaterial 206 may include one or more materials formed from naturally-occurring materials, such as one or more materials formed from one or more vegetable oils and / or derived from one or more vegetable oils. In some embodiments, the biomaterial 206 comprises, consists essentially of, or consists of one or more vegetable oils (e.g., unmodified vegetable oils). In some embodiments, the biomaterial 206 includes at least 80.0 weight percent resin material, as determined by a SARA analysis. The biomaterial 206 may include a bio-resin. In some embodiments, the biomaterial 206 comprises a vegetable resin, such as a material including more than about 80.0 weight percent resins derived from one or more vegetable oils. A resin content of the biomaterial 206 may be at least about 80.0 weight percent, such as at least about 85.0 weight percent, at least about 90.0 weight percent, at least about 95.0 weight percent, at least about 97.0 weight percent, at least about 98.0 weight percent, at least about 99.0 weight percent, or at least about 99.5 weight percent resin. In some embodiments, resins constitute greater than about 90.0 weight percent of the biomaterial 206. In some embodiments, during a SARA analysis, more than about 80.0 weight percent of the biomaterial 206 is a resin. In other words, more than about 80.0 weight percent of the biomaterial 206 may be soluble in a polar solvent, such as dichloromethane (DCM) or acetone.

[0121] In some embodiments, the biomaterial 206 includes at least some asphaltenes. Asphaltenes, if present in the biomaterial 206, may constitute from about 1.0 weight percent to about 20.0 weight percent of the biomaterial 206, such as from about 1.0 weight percent to about 2.0 weight percent, from about 2.0 weight percent to about 3.0 weight percent, from about 3.0 weight percent to about 4.0 weight percent, from about 4.0 weight percent to about 6.0 weight percent, from about 6.0 weight percent to about 8.0 weight percent, from about 8.0 weight percent to about 10.0 weight percent, or from about 10.0 weight percent to about 20.0 weight percent of the biomaterial 206. In some embodiments, asphaltenes constitute at least about 2.0 weight percent of the biomaterial 206, such as at least about 3.0 weight percent, at least about 5.0 weight percent, or at least about 7.0 weight percent of the biomaterial 206. In some embodiments, the biomaterial 206 comprises, consists essentially of, or consists of resins and asphaltenes. In some such embodiments, the biomaterial 206 is free of (e.g., substantially free of) saturates and aromatics.- Page 39 - 25ASPRi8-WO-PCT

[0122] The biomaterial 206 may include less than about 10.0 weight percent aromatics. Aromatics, if present in the biomaterial 206, may constitute from about 1.0 weight percent to about 10.0 weight percent of the biomaterial 206, such as from about 1.0 weight percent to about 5.0 weight percent, or from about 5.0 weight percent to about 10.0 weight percent of the biomaterial 206. Aromatics, if present in the biomaterial 206, may constitute from about 1.0 weight percent to about 10.0 weight percent of the biomaterial 206, such as from about 1.0 weight percent to about 5.0 weight percent, or from about 5.0 weight percent to about 10.0 weight percent of the biomaterial 206. The biomaterial 206 may include less than about 5.0 weight percent of saturates, such as less than about 4.0 weight percent, or less than about 2.5 weight percent saturates. Saturates, if present in the biomaterial 206, may constitute from about 0.10 weight percent to about 3.0 weight percent of the biomaterial 206, such as from about 0.10 weight percent to about 1.0 weight percent, from about 1.0 weight percent to about 2.0 weight percent, or from about 2.0 weight percent to about 3.0 weight percent of the biomaterial 206.

[0123] The biomaterial 206 may have a specific gravity within a range of from about 0.80 to about 0.90, such as from about 0.80 to about 0.82, from about 0.82 to about 0.84, from about 0.84 to about 0.86, from about 0.86 to about 0.88, or from about 0.88 to about 0.90. In some embodiments, the biomaterial 206 has a specific gravity within a range of from about 0.82 to about 0.86, such as from about 0.83 to about 0.85. A vacuum viscosity of the biomaterial 206 at about 64°C may be within a range of from about 10 cP to about 1,000 cP, such as from about 10 cP to about 50 cP, from about 50 cP to about 100 cP, from about 100 cP to about 300 cP, from about 300 cP to about 500 cP, from about 500 cP to about 750 cP, or from about 750 cP to about 1,000 cP. In some embodiments, the vacuum viscosity of the biomaterial 206 at about 64°C is within a range of from about 10 cP to about 900 cP. A boiling point of the biomaterial 206 may be higher than about 200°C.

[0124] In some embodiments, the biomaterial 206 includes an ester bottoms material including methyl esters. The biomaterial 206 may comprise, consist essentially of, or consist of the ester bottoms material (e.g., be substantially free or free of other biomaterials). In some embodiments, the biomaterial 206 consists essentially of or consists of the ester bottoms material. Ester bottoms may include a low value byproduct of vegetable oil, animal fat, and / or recycled greases refining to produce methyl ester, such as biodiesel. Ester bottoms materials currently have relatively low value and are currently marketed for animal feed, lubricants, or other industrial uses at a low price point. In some embodiments,- Page 40 - 25ASPRi8-WO-PCTthe biomaterial 206 comprises, consists essentially of, or consists of the ester bottoms material.

[0125] As noted above, ester bottoms materials are formed as a by-product of biodiesel refining. For example, a feedstock containing vegetable oil and / or animal fat is reacted and refined. By way of non-limiting example, the feedstock may be dried (e.g., in a dryer) to remove moisture therefrom and form dry oil. The dry oil may be fed to a reactor, such as a three-stage continuous reactor wherein a catalyst (e.g., sodium ethoxide) and methanol are added to each stage. The methanol reacts with the feedstock to form reaction products, which may include at least methyl ester and glycerin. In some embodiments, the reaction mixture including the reactants and the reaction products includes less than about 1.0 weight percent monoglycerides and is substantially free of diglycerides and triglycerides. The glycerin may be removed from the reaction mixture (e.g., may settle out of the reaction mixture) and may be directed away from the reactors for further processing. Removal of the glycerin from the reaction mixture may leave an ester phase.

[0126] The ester phase may be distilled (e.g., in a single stage flash distillation tank (or drum)) to remove any remaining methanol. The ester phase may be washed to remove at least some of the glycerin, soap, methanol, and methoxide catalyst. The washed methyl esters may dried in an ester dryer under vacuum to remove additional methanol and water. Sodium methoxide may be added to the drier to convert glycerin and monoglycerides into diglycerides and triglycerides. The methyl esters leaving the ester dryer may be preheated and provided to an ester surge tank. The esters may be fed to a distillation tower to separate purified methyl esters from ester bottoms. For example, the purified methyl esters may exit the top of the distillation tower and the ester bottoms may exit the bottom of the distillation tower.

[0127] The ester bottoms material may include one or more of (e.g., each of) methyl esters, sodium soap, monoglycerides, diglycerides, triglycerides, or unsaponifiable materials. Thus, the ester bottoms material may include methyl esters, monoglycerides, diglycerides, triglycerides, sodium soaps produced from the addition of sodium methoxide (a catalyst in the biodiesel refining process), and unsaponifiable materials. The ester bottoms material may not be or contain glycerin or skimmed fatty acids. In some embodiments, unsaponifiable materials constitute up to about 10.0 weight percent of the ester bottoms material. In some embodiments, the unsaponifiable materials constitute at least 10.0 weight percent of the ester bottoms material. In some embodiments, the unsaponifiable materials constitute at least about 2.0 weight percent, such as at least about- Page 41 - 25ASPRi8-WO-PCT4.0 weight percent, at least about 6.0 weight percent, at least about 8.0 weight percent, or even at least about 10.0 weight percent of the ester bottoms material. In some embodiments, the ester bottoms material exhibits a viscosity within a range of from about 10 cP to about 900 cP at about 64°C.

[0128] The ester bottoms material may include methyl esters, monoglycerides, diglycerides, and triglycerides. By way of non-limiting example, a methyl ester content of the ester bottoms material may be within a range of from about 5.0 weight percent to about 20.0 weight percent, such as from about 5.0 weight percent to about 10.0 weight percent, from about 10.0 weight percent to about 15.0 weight percent, or from about 15.0 weight percent to about 20.0 weight percent. In some embodiments, the methyl ester content of the ester bottoms material is within a range of from about 9.0 weight percent to about 14.0 weight percent.

[0129] A monoglyceride content of the ester bottoms material (e.g., and of the biomaterial 206) may be less than about 2.0 weight percent, such as less than about 1.0 weight percent, or less than about 0.75 weight percent. A diglyceride content of the ester bottoms material (e.g., and of the biomaterial 206) may be within a range of from about 5.0 weight percent to about 15.0 weight percent, such as from about 5.0 weight percent to about 7.0 weight percent, from about 7.0 weight percent to about 9.0 weight percent, from about 9.0 weight percent to about 11.0 weight percent, from about 11.0 weight percent to about 13.0 weight percent, or from about 13.0 weight percent to about 15.0 weight percent. In some embodiments, the diglyceride content of the ester bottoms material (e.g., and of the biomaterial 206) is within a range of from about 7.0 weight percent to about 11.0 weight percent. The diglyceride content of the ester bottoms material (e.g., and of the biomaterial 206) may be less than about 15.0 weight percent, such as less than about 13.0 weight percent, or less than about 11.0 weight percent of the biomaterial 206. Atriglyceride content of the ester bottoms material (e.g., and of the biomaterial 206) maybe within a range of from about 37.0 weight percent 47.0 weight percent, such as from about 37.0 weight percent to about 39.0 weight percent, from about 39.0 weight percent to about 41.0 weight percent, from about 41.0 weight percent to about 43.0 weight percent, from about 43.0 weight percent to about 45.0 weight percent, or from about 45.0 weight percent to about 47.0 weight percent of the biomaterial 206. In some embodiments, the triglyceride content of the ester bottoms material (e.g., and of the biomaterial 206) is greater than about 40.0 weight percent and / or is within a range of from about 40.0 weight percent to about 43.0 weight percent.- Page 42 - 25ASPRi8-WO-PCT

[0130] A weight percent of either diglycerides or triglycerides in the ester bottoms material (e.g., and of the biomaterial 206) (in addition to the di glyceride content and the triglyceride content described above) may be within a range of 20.0 weight percent to about 30.0 weight percent, such as from about 20.0 weight percent to about 25.0 weight percent, or from about 25.0 weight percent to about 30.0 weight percent. A total fatty acid content of the ester bottoms material (e.g., and of the biomaterial 206) (not including the monoglycerides, diglycerides, triglycerides, or combination of diglycerides and triglycerides) may be less than about 5.0 weight percent, such as within a range of from about 1.0 weight percent to about 5.0 weight percent, such as from about 2.0 weight percent to about 4.0 weight percent.

[0131] An aromatic content of the ester bottoms material may be within a range of from about 5.0 weight percent to about 10.0 weight percent, such as from about 5.0 weight percent to about 7.0 weight percent, from about 7.0 weight percent to about 9.0 weight percent, or from about 9.0 weight percent to about 11.0 weight percent. In some embodiments, aromatics constitute from about 7.5 weight percent to about 8.5 weight percent of the ester bottoms material. A resin content of the ester bottoms material may be within a range of from about 85.0 weight percent to about 95.0 weight percent, such as from about 85.0 weight percent to about 87.5 weight percent, from about 87.5 weight percent to about 90.0 weight percent, from about 90.0 weight percent to about 92.5 weight percent, or from about 92.5 weight percent to about 95.0 weight percent. In some embodiments, resins constitute from about 91.5 weight percent to about 92.5 weight percent of the ester bottoms material. The resin content of the ester bottoms material may be greater than about 85.0 weight percent, such as greater than about 88.0 weight percent, greater than about 90.0 weight percent, or even greater than about 92.0 weight percent. In embodiments where the biomaterial 206 comprises, consists essentially of, or consists of the ester bottoms material, the biomaterial 206 may comprise, consist essentially of, or consist of aromatics (e.g., from about 5.0 weight percent to about 10.0 weight percent) and resins (e.g., from about 85.0 weight percent to about 95.0 weight percent) and may be substantially free of saturates and asphaltenes.

[0132] Table 1 below shows the composition of three different biomaterials, as measured by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS).Table 1Component Sample 1 Sample 2 Sample 3- Page 43 - 25ASPRi8-WO-PCTTotal methyl ester 12.853 9.113 13.322 Total fatty acids 2.901 2.376 2.906 Total monoglycerides 0.506 0.628 0.678 Total diglycerides 7.577 10.670 8.970 Total triglycerides 42.214 41.847 40.450 Unknown between diglycerides or triglycerides 22.958 24.001 21.677 Other unknowns 10.991 11.366 11.997

[0133] In some embodiments, the biomaterial 206 includes a bio-resin and includes a thermoplastic material. In some embodiments, the bio-resin is a resin derived from a renewable biological source material, such as plants, animals, algae, and microorganisms. In some embodiments, the biomaterial 206 is a polymer-based bio-resin. In some embodiments, the bio-resin includes a mixture of terpenes (e.g., one or more of alphapinene, beta-pinene, delta-3 carene, sabinene, limonene, terpinolene, sesquiterpenes, longifolene, caryophyllene, and delta-cadinene) and resin acids. In some embodiments, the biomaterial 206 includes alpha-pinene, beta-pinene, delta-3 carene monocyclic terpenes (e.g., limonene, terpinolene), sesquiterpenes (e.g., longifolene and caryophyllene), or combinations thereof. The biomaterial 206 may further include one or more rosin acids, such as one or more of abietic acid, pimaric acid, neoabietic acid, palustric acid, isopimaric acid, or combinations thereof.

[0134] In some embodiments, the biomaterial 206 includes a bio-resin that is formed from (e.g., derived from) one or bio-oils. The bio-oil may include one or more of vegetable oils, animal oils, or oil from algae (e.g., green algae (e.g., hallucinophyta, sea cucumber, parasites, hearing, beard hearing, jadebug, and salt weekly), brown algae (e.g., seaweed, kelp), red algae (e.g., red sea bream, red sea bream, red sea bream, red sea bream, red sea bream)). In some embodiments, the biomaterial 206 includes a bio-resin formed from one or more triglyceride-based vegetable oils. In some embodiments, the vegetable oil includes a triglyceride (which may be molecule comprising a reaction product of glycerol and three fatty acids, each of which fatty acids may be the same or different, and each of which fatty acids may be saturated or unsaturated). In some embodiments, the bio-oil is formed from biomass waste, such as by pyrolysis of biomass. In some embodiments, the bio-oil includes pyrolysis oil, which may be biomass-derived pyrolysis oil, municipal-waste derived pyrolysis oil, and / or pyrolysis oil formed from vegetable oils, animal fats, algae oil, or other biological material.- Page 44 - 25ASPRi8-WO-PCT

[0135] In some embodiments, the biomaterial 206 includes a bio-oil, such as vegetable oil, and / or the biomaterial 206 is derived from a vegetable oil. Non-limiting examples of vegetable oils include canola oil, safflower oil, flaxseed oil, cottonseed oil, peanut oil, almond oil, rice oil, linseed oil, rapeseed oil, jatropha oil, rubber seed oil, sunflower oil, soybean oil, olive oil, palm oil, castor coil, com oil, grapeseed oil, jojoba oil, sesame oil, walnut oil, hazelnut oil, shea butter oil, macadamia oil, alfalfa oil, coconut oil, oiticica oil, poppyseed oil, soya oil, tung oil, algae oil, and wheat germ oil. In some embodiments, the biomaterial 206 includes bio-oil, such as animal oil and / or the biomaterial 206 is derived from animal oil. Non-limiting examples of animal oils include tallow oil (e.g., beef tallow oil), lard, or fish oil.

[0136] The algae oil may be formed from unicellular and / or multicellular algae. The algae oil may be formed from rhodophytes, chiorophytes, heterokontophytes, tribophytes, glaucophytes, chlorarachniophytes, euglenoids, haptophytes, cryptomonads, dinoflagellums, phytoplanktons, and combinations thereof. Non-limiting examples of species of algae include, for example, Neochloris oleoabundans, Scenedesmus dimorphus, Euglena gracilis, Phaeodactylum tricornutum, Pleurochrysis carterae, Prymnesium parvum, Tetraselmis chuff, and Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. Additional, non-limiting examples of algae species include one or more microalgae of the Achnanthes, Amphiprora, Amphora, Ankistrodesmus, Asteromonas, Boekelovia, Borodinella, Botryococcus, Bracteococcus, Chaetoceros, Carteria, Chlamydomonas, Chlorococcum, Chlorogonium, Chlorella, Chroomonas, Chrysosphaera, Cricosphaera, Crypthecodinium, Cryptomonas, Cyclotella, Dunaliella, Ellipsoidon, Emiliania, Eremosphaera, Ernodesmius, Euglena, Franceia, Fragilaria, Gloeothamnion, Haematococcus, Halocafeteria, Hymenomonas, Isochrysis, Lepocinclis, Micractinium, Monoraphidium, Nannochloris, Nannochloropsis, Navicula, Neochloris, Nephrochloris, Nephroselmis, Nitzschia, Ochromonas, Oedogonium, Oocystis, Ostreococcus, Pavlova, Parachlorella, Pascheria, Phaeodactylum, Phagus, Platymonas, Pleurochrysis, Pleurococcus, Prototheca, Pseudochlorella, Pyramimonas, Pyrobotrys, Scenedesmus, Skeletonema, Spyrogyra, Stichococcus, Tetraselmis, Thalassiosira, Viridiella, and Vo! vox species, and / or one or more cyanobacteria of the Agmenellum, Anabaena, Anabaenopsis, Anacystis, Aphanizomenon, Arthrospira, Asterocapsa, Borzia, Calothrix, Chamaesiphon, Chlorogloeopsi s, Chroococcidiopsi s, Chroococcus, Crinalium, Cyanobacterium, Cyanobium, Cyanocystis, Cyanospira, Cyanothece, Cylindrospermopsis, Cylindrospermum, Dactyl ococcopsis, Dermocarpella, Fischerella, Fremyella, Geitleria, Geitlerinema, Gloeobacter, Gloeocapsa, Gloeothece,- Page 45 - 25ASPRi8-WO-PCTHalospirulina, lyengariella, Leptolyngbya, Limnothrix, Lyngbya, Microcoleus, Microcystis, Myxosarcina, Nodularia, Nostoc, Nostochopsis, Oscillatoria, Phormidium, Planktothrix, Pleurocapsa, Prochlorococcus, Prochloron, Prochlorothrix, Pseudanabaena, Rivularia, Schizothrix, Scytonema, Spirulina, Stanieria, Starria, Stigonema, Symploca, Synechococcus, Synechocystis, Tolypothrix, Trichodesmium, Tychonema, and Xenococcus species.

[0137] In some embodiments, biomaterial 206 includes a bio-oil including one or more fatty acids. For example, each of the vegetable oils, animal oils, and / or algae oils described above may include one or more fatty acids (e.g., may include monoglycerides, di glycerides, and / or triglycerides formed from one or more fatty acids). Accordingly, the biomaterial 206 formed from the bio-oils may include one or more corresponding fatty acids and / or comprise a reaction product of one or more fatty acids or materials containing the one or more fatty acids.

[0138] The fatty acids may be unsaturated fatty acids and one or more saturated fatty acids. The unsaturated fatty acids and the saturated fatty acids may be naturally occurring (e.g., derived from plants, such as from vegetable oils and / or algae oils; and / or derived from animal sources). The fatty acids may be linear, branched, or may include one or more cyclic groups. The unsaturated fatty acids may include a monounsaturated fatty acid having one carbon to carbon double bond; a di-unsaturated fatty acid having two carbon to carbon double bonds; a tri-unsaturated fatty acid having three carbon to carbon double bonds; a tetra-unsaturated fatty acid having four carbon to carbon double bonds; a penta-unsaturated fatty acid having five carbon to carbon double bonds; a hexa-unsaturated fatty acid having six carbon to carbon double bonds; or a polyunsaturated fatty acid having more than six carbon to carbon double bonds. In some embodiments, the wetting agent includes one or more monounsaturated fatty acids, one or more di-unsaturated fatty acids, and one or more tri-unsaturated fatty acids.

[0139] The unsaturated fatty acid may include one or more of linolenic acid (e.g., a-linolenic acid and / or y-linolenic acid), stearidonic acid, eicosapentaenoic acid, cervonic acid, linoleic acid, linolelaidic acid, arachidonic acid, docosatetranoic acid, palmitoleic acid, vaccenic acid, paullinic acid, oleic acid, elaidic acid, erucic acid, crotonic acid, myristoleic acid, sapienic acid, gadoleic acid, or eicosenoic acid.

[0140] The saturated fatty acids may include one or more of valeric acid, caproic acid, enanthic acid, caprylic acid, pelargonic acid, capric acid, undecylic acid, lauric acid, tridecylic acid, myristic acid, pentadecylic acid, palmitic acid, margaric acid, stearic acid,- Page 46 - 25ASPRi8-WO-PCTnonadecylic acid, arachidic acid, behenic acid, tricosylic acid, lignoceric acid, pentacosylic acid, cerotic acid, carboceric acid, montanic acid, nonacosylic acid, melissic acid, lacceroic acid, or psyllic acid. In some embodiments, the saturated fatty acids include Ci6 and / or Cis saturated fatty acids. For example, the saturated fatty acids may include one or both of palmitic acid and stearic acid. In some embodiments, the saturated fatty acids include C12 fatty acids, such as lauric acid. In some embodiments, the saturated fatty acids include linear saturated fatty acids and may be naturally occurring, such as saturated fatty acids sourced from plants (e.g., vegetable oils) and / or animals.

[0141] In some embodiments, the unsaturated fatty acid includes one or more unsaturated Cis fatty acids, such as one or more of oleic acid, linoleic acid, linolelaidic acid, a-linolenic acid, y-linolenic acid, or stearidonic acid. In some embodiments, the biomaterial 206 is formed from unsaturated fatty acids and / or material including unsaturated fatty acids including each of oleic acid, linoleic acid, and a-linolenic acid; and saturated fatty acids including one or both of stearic acid and palmitic acid. In some embodiments, the biomaterial 206 is formed from elaidic acid and / or materials including elaidic acid. In some embodiments, the fatty acids include one or more Cis fatty acids, such as one or more of stearic acid, oleic acid, linoleic acid, and linolenic acid. In some embodiments, the fatty acids include palmitic acid and / or myristic acid.

[0142] Bio-resins formed from such bio-oils and / or materials including the fatty acids described above may include one or more of a phenolic resin, an epoxy resin, a polyester resin, an alkyd resin, and / or a polyurethane resin formed from the bio-oil. The phenolic resin, epoxy resin, polyester resin, alkyd resin, and polyurethane resin may include one or more fatty acids therein. For example, such resins may include a backbone including components of the fatty acids. By way of non-limiting example, a fatty acid may have the general formula R-COOH, wherein R is the base of the fatty acid (e.g., oleic acid may have the formula R-COOH, wherein R is CH3(CH2)7CH=CH-(CH2)7-. In other words, the R group of the fatty acid may be incorporated in the biomaterial 206 and / or at least a portion of the R group of the fatty acid may be incorporated in the biomaterial 206.

[0143] In some embodiments, the bio-resin is formed from a bio-oil, such as a vegetable oil, animal oil, or a combination thereof. The bio-resins may include bio-resins formed from such bio-oils and may include phenolic resins, epoxy resins, polyester or alkyd resins, polyurethane resins, polyamine resins, or combinations thereof. In other words, the biomaterial 206 may include a bio-oil-based phenolic resin, a bio-oil-based epoxy resin, a bio-oil-based polyester resin, a bio-oil-based alkyl resin, a bio-oil-based polyurethane resin,- Page 47 - 25ASPRi8-WO-PCTa bio-oil-based polyamine resin, or combinations thereof. The bio-oil may include one or more vegetable oils and the bio-oil based phenolic resin may include a vegetable-based phenolic resin; the bio-oil-based epoxy resin may include a vegetable-based epoxy resin; the bio-oil-based polyester may include a vegetable-based polyester; the bio-oil-based alkyl resin may include a vegetable-based alkyl resin; the bio-oil-based polyurethane resin may include a vegetable-based polyurethane resin; and the bio-oil-based polyamine resin may include a vegetable-based polyamine resin.

[0144] By way of non-limiting example, bio-oil-based phenolic resins may be formed by reacting phenols present in the bio-oil and / or in a pyrolysis oil derived from a biological material (e.g., biomass-derived pyrolysis oil, municipal-waste derived pyrolysis oil, and / or pyrolysis oil formed from vegetable oils, animal fats, algae oil, or other biological material), with an aldehyde (e.g., formaldehyde) to form phenol-aldehyde resins (e.g., phenolformaldehyde resins). In some embodiments, the phenolic fraction of the bio-oil may be extracted from the bio-oil prior to reaction with the aldehyde. In some such embodiments, the biomaterial 206 includes a phenolic resin comprising a reaction product of the bio-oil and an aldehyde, such as formaldehyde. In some embodiments, the bio-oils are formed from or derived from pyrolysis of lignocellulosic materials. In some embodiments, vegetable oils may be thermally cracked or pyrolyzed to form phenol -containing materials that may be reacted with an aldehyde to form the phenolic resin. In some embodiments, the biomaterial 206 includes a bio-based phenolic resin comprising a reaction product of the pyrolysis oil derived from a biological material and an aldehyde. The reaction between the pyrolysis oil derived from the biological material and the aldehyde may be an aldol condensation reaction to form the bio-oil-based phenolic resins.

[0145] Epoxy-resins formed from bio-oil may be formed by epoxidizing the bio-oils, such as by reacting the bio-oil with one or more of epichlorohydrin, glycidol (epoxy alcohol), glycerol derivatives, propylene oxide, oxytane, ethylene oxide, diallyl carbonate, maleic anhydride, or other reactive agents to form an epoxidized bio-oil. In some embodiments, the bio-resin includes a reaction product of an epoxidized vegetable oil and a diamine, such as a diamine derived from one or more fatty acid dimers (e.g., fatty diamines). In some embodiments, the bio-oil includes an unsaturated bio-oil (e.g., one or more unsaturated fatty acids). The unsaturated bio-oil may be reacted with an oxidizing agent (e.g., hydrogen peroxide, epichlorohydrin) to epoxidize the bio-oil. The epoxidized bio-oil may be polymerized and / or cross-linked to form an epoxy-resin. The crosslinkers may include, for example, an anhydride (phthalic anhydride, maleic anhydride), an amine- Page 48 - 25ASPRi8-WO-PCT(e.g., ethylenediamine, diethylenetriamine), a polyol, and / or a phenolic compound. In some embodiments, the biomaterial 206 includes a reaction product of an epoxidized bio-oil and a crosslinker, such as one or more of an anhydride (phthalic anhydride, maleic anhydride), an amine (e.g., ethylenediamine, di ethylenetriamine), a polyol, or a phenolic compound. Accordingly, in some embodiments, the biomaterial 206 comprises a bio-resin including one or more bio-oil-based epoxy -resins, which may be formed from one or more epoxidized bio-oils that have been polymerized and / or crosslinked. In some embodiments, the bioresin includes a vegetable-based epoxy resin.

[0146] Polyester or alkyd resins may be formed by deriving fatty acids or esters from the bio-oils (e.g., through transesterification) and reacting with polyols (e.g., one or more of glycerol, pentaerythritol, or trimethylolpropane) and / or anhydrides (e.g., one or more of maleic anhydride, phthalic anhydride, isophthalic acid, glutaric anhydride, and / or succinic anhydride) to produce unsaturated polyester resins or alkyd resins. In some embodiments, the bio-oil and the polyol are mixed to form a mixture wherein the bio-oil is reacted with the polyol to at least partially esterify the bio-oil. The anhydrides may be added to the mixture, wherein the anhydrides react via condensation with the bio-oil and / or the polyol. Accordingly, the biomaterial 206 may include an alkyd resin comprising a reaction product of the bio-oil, a polyol, and an anhydride.

[0147] In some embodiments, the bio-oil may be reacted with a diol in a polycondensation reaction to form a polyester comprising a reaction product of the diol and the bio-oil. In some embodiments, the bio-oil is reacted with an alcohol (e.g., glycerol) to form a glyceride (e.g., monoglycerides, diglycerides), which is then reacted with an anhydride in a condensation reaction to form the alkyd resin. In some embodiments, the biomaterial 206 includes a vegetable-based polyester resin and / or a vegetable-based alkyd resin. In yet other embodiments, the polyester is formed via the fatty acid method, wherein the bio-oil is reacted with a polyhydric alcohol to form the polyester, wherein the polyester includes a backbone including the fatty acids of the bio-oil.

[0148] In some embodiments, the bio-oil or the biomaterial 206 do not include alkyd resins. In other words, the biomaterial 206 may be free of alkyd resins.

[0149] Polyurethane (PU) resins may be formed by hydroxylating bio-oils (such as by reacting the bio-oils with ethylene and / or diethylene glycol) to form a hydroxylated biooil; and reacting the hydroxylated bio-oil with isocyanates to produce bio-based polyurethanes. In some embodiments, the bio-oil is modified by epoxidation to form an epoxidized bio-oil, followed by hydroxylation to form polyols having a high hydroxyl- Page 49 - 25ASPRi8-WO-PCTnumber. The polyols may include polyols derived from bio-oils and may comprise a reaction product of an epoxidized bio-oil and one or both of water and an alcohol. The resulting polyols derived from the bio-oil is reacted with the isocyanate to form the bio-oil-based polyurethane resin. The isocyanate may include a diisocyanate, such as one or more of toluene diisocyanate, methylene diphenyl diisocyanate, naphthalene-l,5-diisocyanate, isophorone diisocyanate, hexamethylene diisocyanate, or methylene-4,4'-diphenyl diisocyanate. In some embodiments, the biomaterial 206 includes a vegetable-based polyurethane resin. In some embodiments, the biomaterial 206 includes a bio-oil-based polyurethane resin comprising a reaction product of a polyol derived from a bio-oil and an isocyanate.

[0150] The biooil-based polyamine resin may be formed by, for example, reacting a dimer acid with a diamine. In some embodiments, the bio-oil-based polyamine resin includes a reaction product of a dimer acid and a diamine. The diamine may include, for example, hexamethylene diamine. The dimer acid may be a dicarboxylic acid formed by the dimerization of an unsaturated fatty acid. In some embodiments, the dimer acid is formed by the condensation of oleic acid and includes C36 dimer acid.

[0151] In some embodiments, the bio-oil-based polyamine resin includes a reaction product of an aminated oil and an epoxidized fatty acid and / or an epoxidized biooil. The aminated oil may include a reaction product of cysteamine chloride and one or both of a fatty diamine or a fatty amide. The fatty diamine or the fatty amide may include one or more of the fatty acids described above. In some embodiments, the bio-oil-based polyamine resin includes a reaction product of an epoxidized bio-oil and an amine. The amine may include, for example, one or more of ammonia, ethylenediamine, hexamethylenediamine, or other primary or secondary amines. In other embodiments, the bio-oil-based polyamine resin includes a reaction product of the bio-oil and an amine, which forms a bio-amide including amide bonds (e.g., R-COOH + NH2-R' R-CONH-R'). The resulting bio-amide may be polymerized by reaction with an epoxide and / or an aldehyde (e.g., formaldehyde) and / or by polycondensation.

[0152] In some embodiments, the bio-resin includes a plant resin, such as one or more of amber resin, pine resin, Commiphora gileadensis (Balm of Gilead) resin, balsam, copal from trees of Protium copal and Hymenaea courbaril, dammar gum or dammar resin from trees of Dipterocarpaceae, resin from trees of plants of Calamus (Dracaena species) (also referred to as “dragon’s blood”), elemi resin, olibanum (also referred to as frankincense) from Boswellia sacra, galbanum from Ferula gummosa, gum guaicum from the lignum- Page 50 - 25ASPRi8-WO-PCTvitae trees of Guaiacum genus, kauri gum from trees of Agathis australis, hashish (cannabis resin) from cannabis indica, labdanum from a species of Cistus, mastic resin from the mastic tree Pistacia lentiscus, myrrh from shrubs of Commiphora, sandarac resin from Tetraclinis articulata, storax balsam, and spinifex resin.

[0153] In some embodiments, the biomaterial 206 includes at least two different biomaterials. For example, the biomaterial 206 may include a first biomaterial including a vegetable oil, plant oil, and / or a bio-resin derived from vegetable oil and / or animal oils; and a second biomaterial including an ester bottoms material. By way of non-limiting example, the biomaterial 206 may include a first biomaterial including at least 80.0 weight percent resin material, as determined by a SARA analysis; and a second biomaterial comprising the ester bottoms material. In some embodiments, the biomaterial 206 includes from about 0.50 part to about 2.0 parts by weight of the first biomaterial for every about 1.0 part by weight of the second biomaterial, such as from about 0.50 to about 1.0 parts by weight, from about 1.0 part to about 1.5 parts by weight, or from about 1.5 parts to about 2.0 parts by weight of the first biomaterial for every about 1.0 part by weight of the second biomaterial. In some embodiments, the biomaterial 206 includes a higher weight percent of the ester bottoms material than of the first biomaterial having at least 80.0 weight percent resin. In some embodiments, the biomaterial 206 includes equal parts by weight of the first biomaterial and the second biomaterial.

[0154] The rejuvenation mixture 202 may facilitate forming a rejuvenated asphalt binder and / or a reclaimed asphalt pavement including the rejuvenated asphalt binder. FIG. 2B is a simplified flow diagram illustrating a system 210 for forming a reclaimed asphalt pavement 212 including the rejuvenation mixture 202 and a recycled paving asphalt 214 comprising a recycled aggregate material coated with aged asphalt binder. The reclaimed asphalt pavement 212 may include a rejuvenated asphalt binder comprising the rejuvenation mixture 202 and the aged asphalt binder. In some embodiments, the rejuvenated asphalt binder further includes an unaged virgin asphalt binder. The reclaimed asphalt pavement 212 may include recycled aggregate material from the recycled paving asphalt 214, wherein the recycled aggregate material is coated with the rejuvenated asphalt binder comprising the aged asphalt binder and the rejuvenation mixture 202 and, optionally, an unaged virgin asphalt binder.

[0155] With reference to FIG. 2B, the rejuvenation mixture 202 may be mixed with the recycled paving asphalt 214, such as in a mixer 216 (e.g., a heated mixing tank) to form the reclaimed asphalt pavement 212 comprising the aggregate material coated with the- Page 51 - 25ASPRi8-WO-PCTrejuvenated asphalt binder. The rejuvenated asphalt binder may include the rejuvenation mixture 202 and the aged asphalt binder from the recycled paving asphalt 214. In some embodiments, the rejuvenated asphalt binder comprises, consists essentially of, or consists of the rejuvenation mixture 202 and the aged asphalt binder. In some embodiments, the rejuvenated asphalt binder further includes an unaged virgin asphalt binder 220. In some such embodiments, the reclaimed asphalt pavement 212 comprises the aggregate material coated with a rejuvenated asphalt binder comprising the rejuvenation mixture 202, the aged asphalt binder, and the unaged virgin asphalt binder 220. The rejuvenated asphalt binder may comprise a cohesive mixture having a substantially uniform composition wherein each component thereof (e.g., the rejuvenation mixture 202, the aged asphalt binder, and the unaged virgin asphalt binder 220 (if present) are substantially uniformly distributed throughout. The rejuvenation mixture 202 may be provided from a tank (e.g., tank 208 (FIG. 2A)), or the components of the rejuvenation mixture 202 may be provided directly from a process unit and / or from a separate tank. In addition, the unaged virgin asphalt binder 220 may be provided from a tank, or the unaged virgin asphalt binder 220 may be provided directly from a process unit, such as the system 100 (FIG. 1).

[0156] The aged asphalt binder of the recycled paving asphalt 214 may include, for example, an oxidized asphalt binder. In some embodiments, the aged asphalt binder is coated on surfaces of aggregate material of the recycled paving asphalt 214.

[0157] In some embodiments, an asphaltene content of the aged asphalt binder is higher than about 30.0 weight percent, such as higher than about 35.0 weight percent, higher than about 40.0 weight percent, or even higher than about 50.0 weight percent. In some embodiments, the saturate content of the aged asphalt binder is higher than about 10.0 weight percent, such as higher than about 11.0 weight percent, higher than about 13.0 weight percent, higher than about 15.0 weight percent, or even higher than about 20.0 weight percent. A resin content of the aged asphalt binder may be less than about 50.0 weight percent, such as less than about 45.0 weight percent, less than about 40.0 weight percent, less than about 35.0 weight percent, less than about 30.0 weight percent, or even less than about 20.0 weight percent. An aromatic content of the aged asphalt binder may be less than about 15.0 weight percent, such as less than about 12.0 weight percent, less than about 10.0 weight percent, less than about 9.0 weight percent, even less than about 8.0 weight percent, or even less than about 7.0 weight percent. In some embodiments, the aged asphalt binder includes from about 33.0 weight percent to about 36.0 weight percent asphaltenes; from about 43.0 weight percent to about 48.0 weight percent resins; from about- Page 52 - 25ASPRi8-WO-PCT5.0 weight percent to about 9.0 weight percent aromatics; and from about 10.0 weight percent to about 13.0 weight percent saturates. However, the disclosure is not so limited, and the composition of the aged asphalt binder may be different than that described.

[0158] In some embodiments, an asphaltene content of the unaged virgin asphalt binder 220 may be within a range of from about 25.0 weight percent to about 35.0 weight percent, such as from about 25.0 weight percent to about 30.0 weight percent, or from about 30.0 weight percent to about 35.0 weight percent. In some embodiments, an asphaltene content of the unaged virgin asphalt binder may be less than about 35.0 weight percent, such as less than about 32.0 weight percent, or less than about 31.0 weight percent. A resin content of the unaged virgin asphalt binder 220 may be within a range of from about 40.0 weight percent to about 55.0 weight percent, such as from about 40.0 weight percent to about 45.0 weight percent, from about 45.0 weight percent to about 50.0 weight percent, or from about 50.0 weight percent to about 55.0 weight percent. In some embodiments, a resin content of the unaged virgin asphalt binder 220 is higher than about 45.0 weight percent. An aromatic content of the unaged virgin asphalt binder 220 may be within a range of from about 12.0 weight percent to about 20.0 weight percent, such as from about 12.0 weight percent to about 14.0 weight percent, from about 14.0 weight percent to about 17.0 weight percent, or from about 17.0 weight percent to about 20.0 weight percent. In some embodiments, the aromatic content of the unaged virgin asphalt binder 220 is higher than about 15.0 weight percent. A saturate content of the unaged virgin asphalt binder 220 may be within a range of from about 8.0 weight percent to about 15.0 weight percent, such as from about 8.0 weight percent to about 10.0 weight percent, from about 10.0 weight percent to about 13.0 weight percent, or from about 13.0 weight percent to about 15.0 weight percent. In some embodiments, saturates constitute less than about 15.0 weight percent of the unaged virgin asphalt binder 220, such as less than about 12.0 weight percent, or less than about 11.0 weight percent of the unaged virgin asphalt binder 220. However, the disclosure is not so limited, and the composition of the unaged virgin asphalt binder 220 may be different than that described.

[0159] The unaged virgin asphalt binder 220 may include a straight asphalt, such as petroleum asphalt obtained by refining and include a fraction that remains after distillation of crude oil (e.g., the first crude oil 102a (FIG. 1), the second crude oil 102b (FIG. 1)). The straight asphalt may be unmodified asphalt, such as the residual fraction obtained from vacuum distillation of atmospheric residue (e.g., obtained directly from distillation of crude oil and without the addition of performance-enhancing modifiers or additives). In some- Page 53 - 25ASPRi8-WO-PCTembodiments, the unaged virgin asphalt binder 220 includes the high viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material 150 (FIG. 1). For example, the high viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material 150 may constitute at least about 50.0 weight percent of the unaged virgin asphalt binder 220, such as at least about 60.0 weight percent, at least about 70.0 weight percent, or even at least about 80.0 weight percent of the unaged virgin asphalt binder 220. The unaged virgin asphalt binder 220 may further include one or more of the heavy vacuum gas oil 132 (FIG. 1), a medium vacuum gas oil (e.g., the first medium vacuum gas oil 130a (FIG. 1), the second medium vacuum gas oil 130b (FIG. 1)), a deasphalted oil, and / or a hard asphalt (e.g., SDA pitch, such as SDA pitch formed from solvent deasphalting of at least a portion of the low viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material 134 (FIG. 1)). Heavy vacuum gas oil 132 may constitute from about 4.0 weight percent to about 20.0 weight percent of the unaged virgin asphalt binder 220, such as from about 4.0 weight percent to about 10.0 weight percent, from about 10.0 weight percent to about 15.0 weight percent, or from about 15.0 weight percent to about 20.0 weight percent of the unaged virgin asphalt binder 220. A hard asphalt (e.g., SDA pitch) may constitute from about 0.0 weight percent to about 5.0 weight percent of the unaged virgin asphalt binder, such as from about 0.0 weight percent to about 1.0 weight percent, from about 1.0 weight percent to about 3.0 weight percent, or from about 3.0 weight percent to about 5.0 weight percent of the unaged virgin asphalt binder 220. In some embodiments, the virgin asphalt binder 220 comprises, consists essentially of, or consists of the high viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material 150, the heavy vacuum gas oil 132, and the hard asphalt.

[0160] In some embodiments, the aged asphalt binder may include a higher weight percent of asphaltenes and saturates and a lower weight percent of resins and aromatics compared to the rejuvenation mixture 202 and the rejuvenated asphalt binder. In addition, the aged asphalt binder may include a higher weight percent of asphaltenes and saturates than the unaged virgin asphalt binder 220. The aged asphalt binder may also include a lower weight percent of aromatics than the unaged virgin asphalt binder 220.

[0161] A colloidal instability index of the aged asphalt binder may be higher than about 0.75, such as higher than about 0.80, higher than about 0.85, or even higher than about 0.90.

[0162] In some embodiments, additional aggregate material 218 is mixed with the recycled paving asphalt 214 and the rejuvenation mixture 202 and the reclaimed asphalt pavement includes the aggregate material from the recycled paving asphalt 214 and the additional aggregate material 218. In some embodiments, the aggregate material of the reclaimed asphalt pavement 212 consists essentially of or consists of the aggregate material- Page 54 - 25ASPRi8-WO-PCTof the recycled paving asphalt 214 (e.g., does not include any additional aggregated material 218).

[0163] Accordingly, the aggregate material of the reclaimed asphalt pavement 212 may include aggregate material from the recycled paving asphalt 214 including the aged asphalt binder. The aggregate material of the recycled paving asphalt 214 and / or the additional aggregate material 218 may include one or more of course aggregate material, fine aggregate material, and mineral filler materials. The course aggregate material may include, for example, one or more of crushed stone (e.g., granite, basalt, limestone, trap rock), gravel, or recycled materials, such as reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP). The course aggregate material may have a particle size larger than about 4.75 mm. For example, the course aggregate material may include grains or particles having an average size (diameter) within a range of from about 4.75 mm to about 20 mm, such as from about 4.75 mm to about 6.0 mm, from about 6.0 mm to about 10.0 mm, from about 10.0 mm to about 15.0 mm, or from about 15.0 mm to about 20.0 mm.

[0164] The fine aggregate material may include, for example, one or more of sand, crushed stone, rock dust, slag, or ash. The fine aggregate material may fill voids between the course aggregate materials in the reclaimed asphalt pavement 212. The fine aggregate material may have an average particle size within a range of from about 0.075 mm to about 4.75 mm, such as from about 0.075 mm to about 0.50 mm, from about 0.50 mm to about 1.0 mm, from about 1.0 mm to about 2.0 mm, from about 2.0 mm to about 3.0, from about 3.0 mm to about 4.0 mm, or from about 4.0 mm to about 4.75 mm. In some embodiments, the fine aggregate material includes a bimodal or a polymodal size distribution including a plurality of grains or particles of different sizes.

[0165] In some embodiments, the aggregate material of the recycled paving asphalt 214 and / or the additional aggregate material 218 includes a mineral filler material. The mineral filler material may include, for example, one or more of Portland cement, lime, fly ash, stone dust, or hydrated lime. The mineral filler material may have an average particle size smaller than about 0.075 mm.

[0166] The aggregate material of the reclaimed asphalt pavement may constitute from about 80.0 weight percent to about 96.0 weight percent of the reclaimed asphalt pavement 212 (and the resulting asphalt pavement). By way of non-limiting example, the aggregate material may constitute from about 80.0 weight percent to about 85.0 weight percent, from about 85.0 weight percent to about 90.0 weight percent, from about 90.0 weight percent to about 92.0 weight percent, from about 92.0 weight percent to about 94.0 weight percent, or- Page 55 - 25ASPRi8-WO-PCTfrom about 94.0 weight percent to about 96.0 weight percent of the reclaimed asphalt pavement 212. In some embodiments, the aggregate material constitutes greater than about 90.0 weight percent of the reclaimed asphalt pavement 212, such as greater than about 92.0 weight percent, greater than about 93.0 weight percent, greater than about 94.0 weight percent, or greater than about 95.0 weight percent of the reclaimed asphalt pavement 212.

[0167] In some embodiments, a weight ratio of the aggregate material to the biomaterial 206 in the reclaimed asphalt pavement 212 may be within a range of from about 200: 1.0 to about 1,000:1.0, such as from about 200:1.0 to about 300:1.0, from about 300:1.0 to about 400:1.0, from about 400:1.0 to about 500:1.0, from about 500:1.0 to about 700:1.0, or from about 700: 1.0 to about 1,000: 1.0. However, the disclosure is not so limited, and the weight ratio of the aggregate material to the biomaterial 206 in the reclaimed asphalt pavement 212 may be different than that described.

[0168] In some embodiments, a weight ratio of the aggregate material to the low viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material 204 in the reclaimed asphalt pavement 212 may be within a range of from about 200:1.0 to about 1,000:1.0, such as from about 200:1.0 to about 300:1.0, from about 300:1.0 to about 400:1.0, from about 400:1.0 to about 500:1.0, from about 500:1.0 to about 700:1.0, or from about 700:1.0 to about 1,000:1.0. However, the disclosure is not so limited, and the weight ratio of the aggregate material to the low viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material 204 in the reclaimed asphalt pavement 212 may be different than that described.

[0169] The rejuvenated asphalt binder of the reclaimed asphalt pavement 212 may constitute from about 4.0 weight percent to about 20.0 weight percent of the reclaimed asphalt pavement 212, such as from about 4.0 weight percent to about 5.0 weight percent, from about 5.0 weight percent to about 6.0 weight percent, from about 6.0 weight percent to about 8.0 weight percent, from about 8.0 weight percent to about 10.0 weight percent, from about 10.0 weight percent to about 15.0 weight percent, or from about 15.0 weight percent to about 20.0 weight percent of the reclaimed asphalt pavement 212. In some embodiments, the rejuvenated asphalt binder constitutes less than about 20.0 weight percent of the reclaimed asphalt pavement 212, such as less than about 15.0 weight percent, less than about 10.0 weight percent, less than about 8.0 weight percent, less than about 7.0 weight percent, less than about 6.0 weight percent, or less than about 5.0 weight percent of the reclaimed asphalt pavement 212. In some embodiments, the rejuvenated asphalt binder constitutes from about 4.0 weight percent to about 7.0 weight percent of the reclaimed asphalt pavement 212.- Page 56 - 25ASPRi8-WO-PCT

[0170] As described above, the rejuvenated asphalt binder may be formed of and include the aged asphalt binder of the recycled paving asphalt 214 and the rejuvenation mixture 202. The rejuvenated asphalt binder may comprise, consist essentially of, or consist of the aged asphalt binder of the recycled paving asphalt 214 and the rejuvenation mixture 202. In some embodiments, the rejuvenated asphalt binder consists essentially of or consists of the aged asphalt binder of the recycled paving asphalt 214 and the rejuvenation mixture 202. In some embodiments, the rejuvenated asphalt binder is free of (e.g., substantially free of) virgin asphalt binders. In some embodiments, the asphalt binder of the reclaimed asphalt pavement 212 consists essentially of or consists of the rejuvenated asphalt binder. In some embodiments, the asphalt binder of the reclaimed asphalt pavement 212 is free of (e.g., substantially free of) virgin asphalt binder. Stated another way, in some embodiments, the reclaimed asphalt pavement 212 may not include any virgin asphalt binders and may comprise, consist essentially of, or consist of the aged asphalt binder from the recycled paving asphalt 214, the biomaterial 206, and the low viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material 204. In some embodiments, the reclaimed asphalt pavement 212 consists essentially of or consists of aged asphalt binder from the recycled paving asphalt 214, the biomaterial 206, and the low viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material 204.

[0171] The rejuvenation mixture 202 may constitute from about 0.20 weight percent to about 15.0 weight percent of the rejuvenated asphalt binder of the reclaimed asphalt pavement 212, such as from about 0.20 weight percent to about 0.50 weight percent, from about 0.50 weight percent to about 1.0 weight percent, from about 1.0 weight percent to about 3.0 weight percent, from about 3.0 weight percent to about 5.0 weight percent, from about 5.0 weight percent to about 7.0 weight percent, from about 7.0 weight percent to about 10.0 weight percent, or from about 10.0 weight percent to about 15.0 weight percent of the rejuvenated asphalt binder. In some embodiments, the rejuvenation mixture 202 constitutes from about 5.0 weight percent to about 10.0 weight percent of the rejuvenated asphalt binder, such as from about 6.0 weight percent to about 9.0 weight percent of the rejuvenated asphalt binder. In some embodiments, the rejuvenation mixture 202 constitutes about 9.0 weight percent of the rejuvenated asphalt binder. The rejuvenation mixture 202 may constitute at least about 3.0 weight percent of the rejuvenated asphalt binder, such as at least about 4.0 weight percent, at least about 5.0 weight percent, at least about 6.0 weight percent, at least about 8.0 weight percent, or at least about 9.0 weight percent of the rejuvenated asphalt binder. In some embodiments, the rejuvenation mixture 202 constitutes at least about 9.0 weight percent of the rejuvenated asphalt binder. In some embodiments,- Page 57 - 25ASPRi8-WO-PCTthe rejuvenation mixture 202 constitutes less than about 15.0 weight percent of the rejuvenated asphalt binder, such as less than about 10.0 weight percent, less than about 9.0 weight percent, less than about 8.0 weight percent, less than about 7.0 weight percent, less than about 6.0 weight percent of the rejuvenated asphalt binder, or even less than about 5.0 weight percent of the rejuvenated asphalt binder.

[0172] A content of the aged asphalt binder in the rejuvenated asphalt binder may be based on the hot asphalt mix and local regulations. For example, local regulations may determine that a correction factor should be applied to determine an amount of unaged virgin asphalt binder 220 that should be added to the rejuvenated asphalt binder. The aged asphalt binder may constitute from about 10.0 weight percent to about 95.0 weight percent of the rejuvenated asphalt binder, such as from about 10.0 weight percent to about 20.0 weight percent, from about 20.0 weight percent to about 30.0 weight percent, from about 30.0 weight percent to about 50.0 weight percent, from about 50.0 weight percent to about 70.0 weight percent, from about 70.0 weight percent to about 90.0 weight percent, or from about 90.0 weight percent to about 95.0 weight percent of the rejuvenated asphalt binder. In some embodiments, the aged asphalt binder constitutes from about 10.0 weight percent to about 30.0 weight percent of the rejuvenated asphalt binder. In some embodiments, the aged asphalt binder constitutes more than 50.0 weight percent of the rejuvenated asphalt binder, such as more than about 60.0 weight percent, more than about 70.0 weight percent, more than about 80.0 weight percent, or more than about 90.0 weight percent of the rejuvenated asphalt binder.

[0173] A content of the unaged virgin asphalt binder 220 in the rejuvenated asphalt binder may be within a range of from about 10.0 weight percent to about 80.0 weight percent, such as from about 10.0 weight percent to about 30.0 weight percent, from about 30.0 weight percent to about 50.0 weight percent, from about 50.0 weight percent to about 60.0 weight percent, from about 60.0 weight percent to about 70.0 weight percent, or from about 70.0 weight percent to about 80.0 weight percent of the rejuvenated asphalt binder. In some embodiments, a content of the unaged virgin asphalt binder 220 in the rejuvenated asphalt binder is within a range of from about 60.0 weight percent to about 80.0 weight percent. In some embodiments, the rejuvenated asphalt binder includes a higher weight percent of the aged asphalt binder than of the unaged virgin asphalt binder 220.

[0174] Without being bound by any particular theory, it is believed that at least a portion of the aged asphalt binder that coats the recycled aggregate material is available to mix with the rejuvenation mixture and the unaged virgin asphalt binder (if present) to form a cohesive- Page 58 - 25ASPRi8-WO-PCTand substantially uniform (e.g., uniform composition) rejuvenated asphalt binder. In some embodiments, a portion of the aged asphalt binder is absorbed by the recycled aggregate material and at least another portion of the aged asphalt binder flows and mixes with the rejuvenation mixture and the unaged virgin asphalt binder to form the rejuvenated asphalt binder. The rejuvenated asphalt binder flows around and binds the aggregate material.

[0175] The low viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material 204 may constitute from about 0.1 weight percent to about 8.0 weight percent of the rejuvenated asphalt binder, such as from about 0.1 weight percent to about 1.0 weight percent, from about 1.0 weight percent to about 2.0 weight percent, from about 2.0 weight percent to about 3.0 weight percent, from about 3.0 weight percent to about 4.0 weight percent, from about 4.0 weight percent to about 6.0 weight percent, or from about 6.0 weight percent to about 8.0 weight percent of the rejuvenated asphalt binder. In some embodiments, the low viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material 204 constitutes from about 0.1 weight percent to about 5.0 weight percent of the rejuvenated asphalt binder, such as from about 0.10 weight percent to about 4.0 weight percent of the rejuvenated asphalt binder. The low viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material 204 may constitute less than about 4.0 weight percent of the rejuvenated asphalt binder.

[0176] The biomaterial 206 may constitute from about 0.1 weight percent to about 10.0 weight percent of the rejuvenated asphalt binder, such as from about 0.1 weight percent to about 1.0 weight percent, from about 1.0 weight percent to about 2.0 weight percent, from about 2.0 weight percent to about 3.0 weight percent, from about 3.0 weight percent to about 4.0 weight percent, from about 4.0 weight percent to about 5.0 weight percent, from about 5.0 weight percent to about 7.0 weight percent, or from about 7.0 weight percent to about 10.0 weight percent of the rejuvenated asphalt binder. In some embodiments, the biomaterial 206 constitutes from about 0.1 weight percent to about 5.0 weight percent of the rejuvenated asphalt binder. The biomaterial 206 may constitute less than about 5.0 weight percent of the rejuvenated asphalt binder. In some embodiments, the rejuvenated asphalt binder includes a higher weight percent of the biomaterial 206 than of the low viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material 204.

[0177] In embodiments where the rejuvenated asphalt binder includes a first biomaterial and a second biomaterial, each of the first biomaterial and the second biomaterial may be present in the rejuvenated asphalt binder at an amount of from about 0.1 weight percent to about 5.0 weight percent of the rejuvenated asphalt binder; or the combined weight percent of the first biomaterial and the second biomaterial in the rejuvenated asphalt binder may be- Page 59 - 25ASPRi8-WO-PCTwithin a range of from about 0.10 weight percent to about 5.0 weight percent. In some embodiments, the biomaterial 206 includes the first biomaterial and the second biomaterial and includes a greater weight percent of the ester bottoms material than of the other biomaterial. In some embodiments, each of a first biomaterial and a second biomaterial individually constitute from about 0.1 weight percent to about 5.0 weight percent of the rejuvenated asphalt binder.

[0178] In some embodiments, the saturate content of the rejuvenated asphalt binder is within a range of from about 5.0 weight percent to about 15.0 weight percent, such as from about 5.0 weight percent to about 10.0 weight percent, or from about 10.0 weight percent to about 15.0 weight percent. In some embodiments, the saturate content of the rejuvenated asphalt binder is within a range of from about 11.0 weight percent to about 13.0 weight percent, such as from about 11.0 weight percent to about 12.0 weight percent. The saturate content of the rejuvenated asphalt binder may be lower than the saturate content of the aged asphalt binder and may be higher than the saturate content of the unaged virgin asphalt binder 220. The aromatic content of the rejuvenated asphalt binder may be within a range of from about 5.0 weight percent to about 20.0 weight percent, such as from about 5.0 weight percent to about 10.0 weight percent, from about 10.0 weight percent to about 15.0 weight percent, or from about 15.0 weight percent to about 20.0 weight percent. In some embodiments, the aromatic content of the rejuvenated asphalt binder is from about 5.0 weight percent to about 10.0 weight percent. In some embodiments, the aromatic content of the rejuvenated asphalt binder is higher than the aromatic content of the aged asphalt binder.

[0179] The resin content of the rejuvenated asphalt binder may be within a range of from about 35.0 weight percent to about 60.0 weight percent, such as from about 35.0 weight percent to about 40.0 weight percent, from about 40.0 weight percent to about 45.0 weight percent, from about 45.0 weight percent to about 50.0 weight percent, from about 50.0 weight percent to about 55.0 weight percent, or from about 55.0 weight percent to about 60.0 weight percent. In some embodiments, the resin content of the rejuvenated asphalt binder is from about 40.0 weight percent to about 55.0 weight percent, such as within a range of from about 47.0 weight percent to about 53.0 weight percent. The resin content of the rejuvenated asphalt binder may be greater than about 40.0 weight percent, such as greater than about 45.0 weight percent, greater than about 48.0 weight percent, or greater than about 50.0 weight percent. The resin content of the rejuvenated asphalt binder may be- Page 60 - 25ASPRi8-WO-PCThigher than the resin content of the aged asphalt binder and higher than the resin content of the unaged virgin asphalt binder 220.

[0180] The asphaltene content of the rejuvenated asphalt binder may be within a range of from about 15.0 weight percent to about 35.0 weight percent, such as from about 15.0 weight percent to about 20.0 weight percent, from about 20.0 weight percent to about 25.0 weight percent, from about 25.0 weight percent to about 30.0 weight percent, or from about 30.0 weight percent to about 35.0 weight percent. In some embodiments, the asphaltene content of the rejuvenated asphalt binder is from about 25.0 weight percent to about 35.0 weight percent, such as from about 27.0 weight percent to about 33.0 weight percent. The asphaltene content of the rejuvenated asphalt binder may be less than about 35.0 weight percent, such as less than about 33.0 weight percent, or less than about 31.0 weight percent of the rejuvenated asphalt binder. In some embodiments, the asphaltene content of the rejuvenated asphalt binder is lower than the asphaltene content of the aged asphalt binder. The asphaltene content of the rejuvenated asphalt binder may be substantially similar to the asphaltene content of (and may not be substantially higher than) the unaged virgin asphalt binder 220.

[0181] The rejuvenated asphalt binder may have a colloidal instability index less than about 0.80, such as less than about 0.78, less than about 0.76, less than about 0.74, or even less than about 0.72. In some embodiments, the colloidal instability index of the rejuvenated asphalt binder is at least about 0.10 less than the colloidal instability index of the aged asphalt binder, such as at least about 0.12 less, at least about 0.14 less, or even at least about 0.16 less than the colloidal instability index of the aged asphalt binder. In some embodiments, the rejuvenated asphalt binder has a colloidal instability index within about 5.0 percent of the colloidal instability index of the unaged virgin asphalt binder 220. The rejuvenation mixture 202 may reduce the colloidal instability index of the aged asphalt binder such that the rejuvenated asphalt binder has a colloidal instability index at least about 5.0 percent lower than the colloidal insatiably index of the aged asphalt binder, such as at least about 7.0 percent lower, at least about 10.0 percent lower, at least about 12.0 percent lower, at least about 14.0 percent lower, or at least about 16.0 percent lower than the colloidal insatiably index of the aged asphalt binder.

[0182] The rejuvenation mixture 202 may increase the resin content of the aged asphalt binder such that the rejuvenated asphalt binder has at least 2.0 weight percent more, such as at least about 3.0 weight percent more, or even at least about 4.0 weight percent more resin than the aged asphalt binder. In addition, the rejuvenation mixture 202 may increase- Page 61 - 25ASPRi8-WO-PCTthe aromatic content of the aged asphalt binder such that the rejuvenated asphalt binder has a higher weight percent of aromatics than the aged asphalt binder. The rejuvenation mixture 202 may decrease the asphaltene content of the aged asphalt binder such that the rejuvenated asphalt binder has at least about 2.0 weight percent, such as at least about 3.0 weight percent, or at least about 4.0 weight percent less asphaltenes than the aged asphalt binder.

[0183] The rejuvenated asphalt binder of the reclaimed asphalt pavement 212 may exhibit a lower dynamic shear modulus compared to the aged asphalt binder. In some embodiments, at higher modulation frequencies, the rejuvenated asphalt binder may exhibit a lower dynamic shear modulus than the unaged virgin asphalt binder 220. The dynamic shear modulus of the rejuvenated asphalt binder may be lower than the dynamic shear modulus of the aged asphalt binder at a temperature of about 25°C and at temperatures exceeding about 25°.

[0184] In addition, the rejuvenated asphalt binder may exhibit a higher phase angle than that of the unaged virgin asphalt binder 220. Further, the rejuvenated asphalt binder may exhibit a higher phase angle than that of the aged asphalt binder. For example, the rejuvenated asphalt binder may have a phase angle at least about 10 degrees higher than the phase angle of the aged asphalt binder, such as at least about 13 degrees, at least about 15 degrees, at least about 18 degrees, or even at least about 20 degrees higher than the aged asphalt binder over a wide temperature range, such as at a temperature of about 25°C or at temperatures exceeding about 25°C. Thus, in some embodiments, the phase angle of the rejuvenated asphalt binder is higher than the phase angle of the aged asphalt binder at a temperature of about 25°C, such as at least about 10 degrees higher, at least about 15 degrees higher, or at least about 20 degrees higher. In some embodiments, at about 25°C, the phase angle of the rejuvenated asphalt binder may be greater than about 50°, such as greater than about 55°, greater than about 60°, greater than about 65°, greater than about 70°, greater than about 75°, greater than about 80°, or even greater than about 85°. The phase angle and the stiffness of the rejuvenated asphalt binder, the unaged virgin asphalt binder 220, and the aged asphalt binder may be measured at multiple temperatures and at multiple loading frequencies, such as at loading frequencies spanning about 0.1 Hz to about 30 Hz, and temperatures such as 52°C, 58°C, 64°C, 70°C, and 76°C. The curves are shifted using different factors by applying the time-temperature superposition principles to shift the data along the frequency axis until a single curve is obtained.- Page 62 - 25ASPRi8-WO-PCT

[0185] In some embodiments, the phase angle of the rejuvenated asphalt binder is higher than the phase angle of the aged asphalt binder and of the unaged virgin asphalt binder 220 at intermediate temperatures. An intermediate temperature of a performance grade asphalt may be defined according to Equation 7 below:Intermediate Temperature = (HTC+(LTC)) / 2 + 4 ; (7)wherein the high temperature compliance and the low temperature compliance temperatures are in °C. As one example, a performance grade PG 64-22 asphalt binder has an intermediate temperature of about 25°C (e.g., (64°C+(-22°C) / 2) + 4°C = 25°C. The phase angle of the rejuvenated asphalt binder may be higher than the phase angle of the aged asphalt binder at intermediate temperatures, such as at least about 10 degrees higher, at least about 15 degrees higher, or at least about 20 degrees higher.

[0186] In addition to decreasing the dynamic shear modulus and increasing the phase angle of the aged asphalt binder, the rejuvenation mixture 202 may increase the ATCof the aged asphalt binder. For example, the rejuvenated asphalt binder may exhibit a ATCat least about 2.0°C, such as at least about 4.0°C, at least about 5.0°C, at least about 6.0°C, at least about 7.0°C, or even at least about 8.0°C higher than the ATCof the aged asphalt binder. In some embodiments, the rejuvenation mixture 202 may increase the ATCof the aged asphalt binder by at least 50%, such as at least about 60% such that the rejuvenated asphalt binder has a ATCat least about 50% higher than the ATCof the aged asphalt binder. For example, the rejuvenation mixture 202 may increase the ATCof an aged asphalt binder such that a rejuvenated asphalt binder including an aged asphalt binder having a ATCof about -13.0°C has a ATCof about -4.9°C (i.e., -13.0°C x 40% = -5.2°C. In some embodiments, the rejuvenated asphalt binder exhibits a ATChigher than about -5.0°C after three cycles of 20-hour pressurized aging vessel (PAV) aging. In some embodiments, one cycle of 20-hour PAV aging may approximate about 10 years of aging; two cycles of 20-hour PAV aging may approximate about 20 years of aging; and three cycles of 20-hour PAV aging may approximate about 30 years of aging.

[0187] The addition of the rejuvenation mixture 202 to the recycled paving asphalt 214 to form the rejuvenated asphalt binder may facilitate forming a rejuvenated asphalt binder passing performance grade specifications for ATC(e.g., a ATChigher than -5°C, even though the ATCof the aged asphalt binder is lower than about -8°C, such as lower than about -10°C, lower than about -11°C, lower than about -12°C, or even lower than about -13°C.- Page 63 - 25ASPRi8-WO-PCT

[0188] Accordingly, forming the reclaimed asphalt pavement from the rejuvenation mixture 202 comprising the low viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material 204 and the biomaterial 206 may facilitate restoring the properties and the composition of the aged asphalt binder such that the rejuvenated asphalt binder in the reclaimed asphalt pavement 212 exhibits desired properties and a desired composition. For example, the rejuvenated asphalt binder may exhibit a higher phase angle and a lower shear modulus than the aged asphalt binder. In addition, the rejuvenated asphalt binder may include a higher resin content, a higher aromatic content, a lower saturate content, and a lower asphaltene content than the aged asphalt binder and may rebalance the composition of the aged asphalt binder to more closely represent that of the virgin asphalt binder 220.

[0189] The biomaterial 206 and the low viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material 204 may soften the aged asphalt binder of the recycled paving asphalt 214 to form the rejuvenated asphalt binder having a lower softening point than the aged asphalt binder; and the biomaterial 206 may restore (e.g., increase) the phase angle of the rejuvenated asphalt binder compared to the aged asphalt binder. However, the use of the biomaterial 206 alone (without the low viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material 204) would require significantly higher quantities than the combination the biomaterial 206 and the low viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material 204, which would lead to failing mass change specifications of the rejuvenated asphalt binder. Accordingly, the unique combination of the biomaterial 206 (such as a biomaterial 206 comprising an ester bottoms material having the specific composition and properties described herein) and the low viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material 204 (having the specific composition and properties described herein) facilitates forming the rejuvenated asphalt binder having desired properties and a desirable composition, such that the rejuvenated asphalt binder meets performance grade specifications. The blend including (e.g., consisting essentially of, consisting of) the low viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material 204 and the biomaterial 206 may facilitate increasing the phase angle and reducing the shear modulus, while also maintaining mass change specifications of the rejuvenated asphalt binder. In addition, the rejuvenated asphalt binder may exhibit a lower ATCafter 20-hour PAV aging than a virgin asphalt binder that has been subjected to 20-hour PAV aging. In addition, the rejuvenated asphalt binder may have a Glover-Rowe Parameter that is lower than that of the aged asphalt binder.

[0190] FIG. 3 is a simplified flow diagram illustrating a method 300 of forming a reclaimed asphalt pavement including the rejuvenated asphalt binder, according to at least one embodiment of the disclosure. The method 300 may include forming a low viscosity- Page 64 - 25ASPRi8-WO-PCTvacuum tower bottoms material, as shown in act 302. The low viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material may be substantially the same as the low viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material 134 described above with reference to FIG. 1. In some embodiments, the low viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material 134 has a vacuum viscosity less than about 300 P, such as less than about 200 P at about 60°C.

[0191] The method 300 may further include mixing a biomaterial with the low viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material to form a rejuvenation mixture, as shown in act 304. The biomaterial may be the same as the biomaterial 206 described above with reference to FIG. 2A. By way of non-limiting example, the biomaterial may include greater than about 80.0 weight percent resins, such as greater than about 85.0 weight percent, or greater than about 90.0 weight percent resins. In some embodiments, the biomaterial consists essentially of or consists of resins and aromatics. The rejuvenation mixture may be the same as the rejuvenation mixture 202 described above with reference to FIG. 2A.

[0192] In some embodiments, mixing the biomaterial with the low viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material includes providing the biomaterial to the low viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material and / or to a tank including the low viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material at a temperature above a pour point or a melting temperature of the biomaterial. In some embodiments, the biomaterial is heated to a temperature above about 25°C (about 77°F), such as above about 30°C (about 86°F), above about 35°C (about 95°F), above about 40°C (about 104°F), above about 45°C (about 113°F), or above about 50°C (about 122°F). In some embodiments, the biomaterial exhibits a melting point and / or a pour point lower than about 50°C (about 122°F), such as lower than about 45°C (about 113°F), lower than about 40°C (about 104°F), or lower than about 35°C (about 95°F) and act 304 includes adding the biomaterial to the low viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material at a temperature lower than about 50°C (about 122°F), such as lower than about 45°C (about 113°F), lower than about 40°C (about 104°F), or lower than about 35°C (about 95°F).

[0193] With continued reference to FIG. 3, the method may further include obtaining a recycled paving asphalt, as shown in act 306. The recycled paving asphalt may be the same as the recycled paving asphalt 214 described with reference to FIG. 2B. In some embodiments, obtaining the recycled paving asphalt includes milling and / or crushing recycled paving asphalt to form aggregate material coated with the aged asphalt binder. The aggregate material coated with the aged asphalt binder may be screened to separate the aggregate material into different size distributions. In some embodiments, the aggregate material coated with the aged asphalt binder is heated to a temperature, such as a- Page 65 - 25ASPRi8-WO-PCTtemperature of at least about 100°C to soften the aged asphalt binder. In some embodiments, the aged asphalt binder remains coated on the aggregate material.

[0194] With continued reference to FIG. 3, the method 300 may further include mixing the rejuvenation mixture with the recycled paving asphalt to form a reclaimed asphalt pavement, as shown in act 308. The reclaimed asphalt pavement may be the same as the reclaimed asphalt pavement 212 described above with reference to FIG. 2B. In some embodiments, mixing the rejuvenation mixture with the recycled paving asphalt comprises forming the reclaimed asphalt pavement to include a rejuvenated asphalt binder comprising (e.g., consisting essentially of, consisting of) the rejuvenation mixture and the aged asphalt binder from the recycled paving asphalt. In some embodiments, act 308 further includes mixing an unaged virgin asphalt binder with the rejuvenation mixture and / or with the reclaimed asphalt pavement. The unaged virgin asphalt binder may be the same as the unaged virgin asphalt binder 220 described above. In some embodiments, act 308 includes adding one or more additional aggregate materials (e.g., additional aggregate materials 218 (FIG. 2B)) to the reclaimed asphalt pavement 212.

[0195] In some embodiments, the recycled paving asphalt is heated to a temperature higher than about 50°C to soften the aged asphalt binder coating the recycled aggregate material of the recycled paving asphalt. The recycled paving asphalt may be heated to a temperature of at least about 75°C, at least about 100°C, at least about 125°C, at least about 150°C, at least about 175°C, or even at least about 200°C. In some embodiments, the rejuvenation mixture is heated to a temperature prior to mixing with the recycled paving asphalt. For example, the rejuvenation mixture may be heated to a temperature of at least about 50°C, such as at least about 75°C, at least about 100°C, at least about 125°C, or at least about 150°C. In some embodiments, the rejuvenation mixture is heated to a temperature of at least about 100°C.

[0196] In some embodiments, and as described above, the reclaimed asphalt pavement is a hot asphalt mixture (also referred to as a “hot mix asphalt”) and act 308 includes mixing the rejuvenation mixture, the recycled paving asphalt, and the unaged virgin asphalt binder (if present) at a hot mix plant. In some such embodiments, the recycled paving asphalt, the rejuvenated asphalt binder, and / or the reclaimed asphalt pavement may be heated, such as to a temperature higher than about 135°C (about 275°F), such as higher than about 143.3°C (about 290°F), higher than about 148.9°C (about 300°F), higher than about 160°C (about 320°F), higher than about 165.6°C (about 330°F), higher than about 171.1°C (about 340°F), or even higher than about 176.7°C (about 350°F). In some embodiments, the temperature- Page 66 - 25ASPRi8-WO-PCTof the rejuvenated asphalt binder and / or the asphalt mixture is within a range of from about 135°C (about 275°F) to about 176.7°C (about 350°F), such as from about 135°C (about 275°F) to about 148.9°C (about 300°F), from about 148.9°C (about 300°F) to about 162.8°C (about 325°F), or from about 162.8°C (about 325°F) to about 176.7°C (about 350°F). Without being bound by any particular theory, it is believed that responsive to heating, at least a portion of the aged asphalt binder softens and is available to mix with the rejuvenation mixture and the unaged virgin asphalt binder (if present) to form the rejuvenated asphalt binder.

[0197] The method 300 may further include paving a surface with the reclaimed asphalt pavement to form an asphalt pavement from recycled asphalt pavement, as shown in act 310. The use of the reclaimed asphalt binder in the reclaimed asphalt pavement facilitates forming a paving asphalt from lower cost materials than conventional paving asphalts. In addition, the combination of the low viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material and the biomaterial (e.g., the ester bottoms material) in the reclaimed asphalt pavement facilitates forming the rejuvenated asphalt binder in the reclaimed asphalt binder having a higher (less negative) ATCafter three cycles of 20-hour PAV aging than a virgin asphalt binder after three cycles of 20-hour PAV again. The reclaimed asphalt pavement also exhibits a higher phase angle after PAV aging compared to a virgin asphalt binder after PAV aging. In some embodiments, each 20-hour cycle of PAV aging approximates about 10 years of aging of an asphalt binder (e.g., how the asphalt binder would age in 10 years of service, such as in a paving asphalt).EXAMPLESExample 1

[0198] The distillation curve of a high viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material was measured according to the ASTM D7169M method. The weight percent of the high viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material that evaporated (was boiled off) as a function of temperature was measured. FIG. 4 is a graph illustrating the distillation curve of the high viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material. With reference to FIG. 4, the initial boiling point of the high viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material was about 482.2°C (about 900°F) and the end point of the high viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material was about 820°C (about 1,508°F).- Page 67 - 25ASPRi8-WO-PCTExample 2

[0199] The distillation curve of a low viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material was measured according to the ASTM D7169M method. The weight percent of the low viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material that evaporated (was boiled off) as a function of temperature was measured. FIG. 5 is a graph illustrating the distillation curve of the low viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material. With reference to FIG. 5, the initial boiling point of the low viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material was about 410°C (about 770°F) and the end point of the low viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material was about 740.6°C (about 1,365°F). The boiling points of the low viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material were lower than the corresponding boiling points of the high viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material.Example 3

[0200] The dynamic shear modulus of a rejuvenated asphalt binder was compared to the dynamic shear modulus of a control unaged virgin asphalt binder, to the control virgin asphalt binder after RTFO aging, and to the control virgin asphalt binder after 20-hour PAV aging. The control unaged virgin asphalt binder had a performance grade of PG 64-22. The rejuvenated asphalt binder included a rejuvenation mixture comprising biomaterial and a low viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material; and further included an aged asphalt binder comprising the control virgin asphalt binder after RTFO aging and after 20-hour PAV aging. The biomaterial was an ester bottoms material. The low viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material had a vacuum viscosity lower than 200 P at 60°C. The biomaterial was a biooil.

[0201] FIG. 6 is a dynamic modulus mastercurve illustrating the dynamic shear modulus as a function of loading frequency of each of the control virgin asphalt binder, the control virgin asphalt binder after RTFO aging, the control virgin asphalt binder after 20-hour PAV aging, and the rejuvenated asphalt binder comprising the control virgin asphalt binder after RTFO aging and 20-hour PAV aging rejuvenated with the biooil and the low viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material. With reference to FIG. 6, the rejuvenated asphalt binder exhibited a dynamic shear modulus that nearly matched or overlapped the dynamic shear modulus mastercurve of the unaged virgin asphalt binder over the frequencies measured. The graph in FIG. 6 was obtained by performing temperature and frequency sweeps using a dynamic shear rheometer to measure the phase angle and the complex modulus, and then applying the time-temperature superposition principle to shift the data along the frequency axis to a single reference temperature. The dynamic modulus mastercurve represents the- Page 68 - 25ASPRi8-WO-PCTdynamic shear modulus of the asphalt binders over timeframes that are not directly testable. The graph in FIG. 6 was obtained by measuring the dynamic shear modulus of the asphalt binders at a range of temperatures (52°C, 58°C, 64°C, 70°C, and 76°C) at a frequencies spanning about 0.1 Hz to about 30 Hz. The data was shifted by applying the timetemperature superposition principles to shift the data along the frequency axis until a single curve was obtained for each asphalt binder.

[0202] FIG. 7 is a graph illustrating the dynamic shear modulus of the same asphalt binders of FIG. 6, but more clearly showing the dynamic shear modulus at the higher loading frequencies. Even at higher loading frequencies, the rejuvenated asphalt binder exhibited a dynamic shear modulus relatively close to that of the unaged virgin asphalt binder.

[0203] Accordingly, the rejuvenation mixture of the biooil and the low viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material improves (reduces) the dynamic shear modulus of the rejuvenated asphalt binder and restores the dynamic shear to near that of the unaged virgin asphalt binder. With reference to FIG. 7, the rejuvenation mixture decreased the stiffness of the aged asphalt binder to levels below those observed in the unaged virgin asphalt binder. Even though the rejuvenated asphalt binder was aged by RTFO aging and 20-hour PAV aging, the rejuvenation mixture of the biooil and the low viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material would improve the dynamic shear modulus of an aged asphalt binder from a recycled asphalt pavement.

[0204] FIG. 8 is a graph illustrating the phase angle of the different asphalt binders at different temperatures and loading frequencies. With reference to FIG. 8, the rejuvenation mixture increased the phase angle of the RTFO and 20-hour PAV aged asphalt binder to near that of the unaged virgin asphalt binder across all measured frequencies and temperatures.

[0205] FIG. 9 is a graph illustrating the ATCof the control asphalt binder after PAV aging for 20 hours (1PAV), after PAV aging for 20 hours two times (2PAV), after PAV aging for 20 hours three times (3 PAV), and after PAV aging for 20 hours three times with the addition of the rejuvenation mixture of biooils and low viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material (3PAV with bio-oils and LVTBs). The ATCis a property that quantifies the relaxation properties related to non-load related cracking and durability of the asphalt binder. Conventional testing requirements for performance grade require asphalt binders to be tested after a single cycle of 20-hour PAV aging; although two cycles of 20-hour PAV aging have been proposed to evaluate cracking resistance under more severe aging conditions.- Page 69 - 25ASPRi8-WO-PCTTypically, after three cycles of 20-hour PAV aging, most virgin asphalt binder begin to behave like highly oxidized or recycled material from reclaimed asphalt pavement. For example, each cycle of 20-hour PAV aging may approximate about 10 years of service life of the asphalt binder.

[0206] With reference to FIG. 9, after PAV aging for 20 hours, the ATCof the control asphalt binder was -1.3°C; after PAV aging for 20 hours two times, the ATCof the control asphalt binder was -4.3°C; and after PAV aging for 20 hours three times, the ATCof the control asphalt binder was -13.0°C, which does not meet performance grade specifications (of a ATC) higher than -5°C. FIG. 9 confirms that the virgin asphalt binder exhibited properties similar to that of highly oxidized and / or recycled material from reclaimed asphalt pavement (e.g., a ATCof -13°C) after three cycles of 20-hour PAV aging. After adding the rejuvenation mixture to the asphalt binder that was subjected to PAV aging for 20 hours three times, the rejuvenated asphalt binder had a ATCof -4.9°C, an increase of about 8.1°C. Accordingly, the addition of the rejuvenation mixture to the three times PAV aged asphalt binder improved the low temperature relaxation properties of the asphalt binder and increased the ATCto a temperature meeting performance grade specifications.

[0207] FIG. 10 is a graph illustrating the composition of the unaged virgin asphalt binder, the composition of the RTFO and 20-hour PAV aged asphalt binder, and the RTFO and 20-hour PAV aged asphalt binder after addition of the rejuvenation mixture including biooils and low viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material. The composition of the asphalt binders was measured according to an IATROSCAN SARA analysis. With reference to FIG. 10, the RTFO and 20-hour PAV aged asphalt binder had a higher asphaltene content, a higher saturate content, and a lower aromatic content than the unaged virgin asphalt binder. After adding the rejuvenation mixture to the RTFO and 20-hour PAV aged asphalt binder to form the rejuvenated asphalt binder, the rejuvenated asphalt binder had a lower asphaltene content, a lower saturate content, a higher aromatic content, and a higher resin content compared to the aged asphalt binder. The increase in the resin content and the decrease in the aromatic content increased the flexibility and reduced the stiffness of rejuvenated asphalt binder compared to the aged asphalt binder.

[0208] The addition of the rejuvenation mixture chemically rebalanced the aged asphalt binder and improved the colloidal stability of the asphalt binder. FIG. 11 is a graph illustrating the colloidal instability index of the asphalt binders of FIG. 10. With reference to FIG. 11, the rejuvenation mixture reduced the colloidal instability index of the aged- Page 70 - 25ASPRi8-WO-PCTasphalt binder from 0.86 to 0.72, bringing the colloidal instability index to nearly the value of the colloidal instability index of the unaged virgin asphalt binder.Example 4

[0209] The Glover-Rowe Parameter (GRP) was calculated from the DSR generated from the data shown in FIG. 6 and FIG. 8. The GRP is used to assess the cracking resistance of asphalt binders by capturing the complex shear modulus (G*) and the binder phase angle (8) at a temperature-frequency combination of 15°C and 0.005 rad / s, according to Equation (8) below:G*(cos<5)2GPR =sin 8 (8).

[0210] The performance grade PG 64-22 unaged virgin asphalt binder described above with reference to example 3 was prepared. Different samples of the unaged virgin asphalt binder were subjected to one, two, or three cycles of 20-hour PAV aging. Additional samples of the one, two, and three cycle 20-hour PAV aged virgin asphalt binders were prepared and rejuvenated with the rejuvenation mixture comprising biooils and low viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material, as described above with reference to Example 3. In total the GRP of 7 samples were measuring including: (1) the unaged PG 64-22 virgin asphalt binder (“unaged PG 64-22); (2) the PG 64-22 virgin asphalt binder after one cycle of 20-hour PAV aging (1XPAV PG 64-22); (3) the PG 64-22 virgin asphalt binder after two cycles of 20-hour PAV aging (2XPAV PG 64-22); (4) the PG 64-22 virgin asphalt binder after three cycles of 20-hour PAV aging (3XPAV PG 64-22); (5) the 1XPAV PG 64-22 asphalt binder after addition of the rejuvenation mixture (1XPAV + biooils and LVTBS); (6) the 2XPAV PG 64-22 asphalt binder after addition of the rejuvenation mixture (2XPAAV + biooils and LVTBS); and (7) the 3XPAV PG 64-22 asphalt binder after addition of the rejuvenation mixture (3XPAAV + biooils and LVTBS).

[0211] FIG. 12 is a graph illustrating the GRP in black space of the different samples; and FIG. 13 is a graph illustrating the GPR of the different samples in a bar graph. The two threshold values of 180 kPa and 600 kPa for cracking are shown in FIG. 12 as the onset of cracking and significant cracking, respectively. In FIG. 12, the onset of cracking curve corresponds to a curve where the GRP value (i.e., G*(cos(δ))2 / sin(δ)) measured at 0.005 rad / sec is 180 kPa; and the significant cracking curve is where the GRP value is 600 kPa. In FIG. 13, the onset of cracking occurs at a GRP value of about 180 kPa and significant cracking occurs at a GRP value of about 450 kPa. With reference to FIG. 12 and FIG. 13,- Page 71 - 25ASPRi8-WO-PCTthe rejuvenated asphalt binders exhibited better performance against cracking after each aging cycle compared to the asphalt binders without the rejuvenation mixture. While the virgin asphalt binder exceeded the significant cracking threshold after two cycles and after three cycles of 20-hour PAV aging, the rejuvenated asphalt binders performed significantly better, and only crossed the onset of cracking threshold after three cycles of 20-hour PAV aging, as shown in FIG. 12 and FIG. 13. In addition, the rejuvenated asphalt binder was very near the onset of cracking after the three cycles of 20-hour PAV aging, whereas the virgin asphalt binder after three cycles of 20-hour PAV aging without the rejuvenation mixture significantly exceeded the significant cracking threshold. Accordingly, the addition of the rejuvenation mixture to an aged asphalt binder significantly improved the cracking resistance of the aged asphalt binders, allowing for aged asphalt binders to be rejuvenated and incorporated into reclaimed asphalt pavements.

[0212] Additional non-limiting example embodiments of the disclosure are set forth below.

[0213] Embodiment 1: A reclaimed asphalt pavement: comprising: a rejuvenated asphalt binder comprising: an aged asphalt binder; a biomaterial comprising an ester bottoms material including a methyl ester material; and a low viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material; and an aggregate material coated with the rejuvenated asphalt binder.

[0214] Embodiment 2: The reclaimed asphalt pavement of Embodiment 1, wherein the biomaterial constitutes from about 0.1 weight percent to about 5.0 weight percent of the rejuvenated asphalt binder.

[0215] Embodiment 3: The reclaimed asphalt pavement of Embodiment 1 or Embodiment 2, wherein: an aromatic content of the ester bottoms material is within a range of from about 5.0 weight percent to about 10.0 weight percent; and a resin content of the ester bottoms material is within a range of from about 85.0 weight percent to about 95.0 weight percent.

[0216] Embodiment 4: The reclaimed asphalt pavement of any one of Embodiments 1 through 3, wherein the ester bottoms material comprises methyl esters, monoglycerides, diglycerides, and triglycerides.

[0217] Embodiment 5: The reclaimed asphalt pavement of any one of Embodiments 1 through 4, wherein a methyl ester content of the ester bottoms material is within a range of from about 5.0 weight percent to about 20.0 weight percent.- Page 72 - 25ASPRi8-WO-PCT

[0218] Embodiment 6: The reclaimed asphalt pavement of any one of Embodiments 1 through 5, wherein the ester bottoms material comprises methyl esters, sodium soap, monoglycerides, diglycerides, triglycerides, or unsaponifiable materials.

[0219] Embodiment 7: The reclaimed asphalt pavement of Embodiment 6, wherein the unsaponifiable materials constitute at least about 2.0 weight percent of the ester bottoms material.

[0220] Embodiment 8: The reclaimed asphalt pavement of any one of Embodiments 1 through 7, wherein the biomaterial further comprises a biomaterial derived from one or more biooils, wherein: resins constitute greater than about 80.0 weight percent of the biomaterial derived from one or more biooils; and the biomaterial derived from one or more biooils is substantially free of saturates and asphaltenes.

[0221] Embodiment 9: The reclaimed asphalt pavement of any one of Embodiments 1 through 8, wherein the biomaterial has a specific gravity within a range of from about 0.82 to about 0.86.

[0222] Embodiment 10: The reclaimed asphalt pavement any of Embodiments 1 through 9, wherein the low viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material exhibits a vacuum viscosity measured at about 60°C within a range of from about 1 Poise to about 200 Poise.

[0223] Embodiment 11: The reclaimed asphalt pavement of any of Embodiments 1 through 10, wherein the low viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material constitutes from about 0.1 weight percent to about 4.0 weight percent of the rejuvenated asphalt binder.

[0224] Embodiment 12: The reclaimed asphalt pavement of any one of Embodiments 1 through 11, wherein the low viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material includes a bimodal distribution of C6to C25hydrocarbons and C25 to C35 hydrocarbons, as measured by using staged thermal extraction gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (TE GC-MS).

[0225] Embodiment 13: The reclaimed asphalt pavement of any one of Embodiments 1 through 12, wherein the low viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material exhibits an initial boiling point within a range of from about 413°C to about 423 °C and an endpoint within a range of from about 704.4°C to about 748.9°C.

[0226] Embodiment 14: The reclaimed asphalt pavement of any one of Embodiments 1 through 13, wherein low viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material includes from about 10.0 weight percent to about 25.0 weight percent resins and from about 10.0 weight percent to about 20.0 weight percent asphaltenes.

[0227] Embodiment 15: The reclaimed asphalt pavement of any one of Embodiments 1 through 14, wherein a weight percent of the ester bottoms material in the rejuvenated- Page 73 - 25ASPRi8-WO-PCTasphalt binder is equal to or higher than a weight percent of the low viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material in the rejuvenated asphalt binder.

[0228] Embodiment 16: The reclaimed asphalt pavement of any one of Embodiments 1 through 15, wherein the rejuvenated asphalt binder is free of virgin asphalt binder.

[0229] Embodiment 17: The reclaimed asphalt pavement of any one of Embodiments 1 through 16, wherein the rejuvenated asphalt binder further comprises a virgin asphalt binder.

[0230] Embodiment 18: The reclaimed asphalt pavement of any one of Embodiments 1 through 17, wherein the aged asphalt binder constitutes greater than about 90.0 weight percent of the rejuvenated asphalt binder.

[0231] Embodiment 19: The reclaimed asphalt pavement of any one of Embodiments 1 through 18, wherein the rejuvenated asphalt binder exhibits a higher phase angle than that of the aged asphalt binder at temperatures exceeding about 25°C.

[0232] Embodiment 20: The reclaimed asphalt pavement of any one of Embodiments 1 through 19, wherein the rejuvenated asphalt binder exhibits a complex shear modulus (G*) lower than that of the aged asphalt binder at temperatures exceeding about 25°C.

[0233] Embodiment 21: The reclaimed asphalt pavement of any one of Embodiments 1 through 20, wherein the rejuvenated asphalt binder exhibits a ATChigher than about -5.0°C after three cycles of 20-hour pressurized aging vessel (PAV) aging.

[0234] Embodiment 22: The reclaimed asphalt pavement of any one of Embodiments 1 through 21, wherein the rejuvenated asphalt binder exhibits a ATCat least 60 percent higher than that of the aged asphalt binder.

[0235] Embodiment 23: The reclaimed asphalt pavement of any one of Embodiments 1 through 22, wherein resins constitute greater than about 45.0 weight percent of the rejuvenated asphalt binder.

[0236] Embodiment 24: The reclaimed asphalt pavement of any one of Embodiments 1 through 23, wherein resins constitute greater than about 48.0 weight percent of the rejuvenated asphalt binder.

[0237] Embodiment 25: The reclaimed asphalt pavement of any one of Embodiments 1 through 24, wherein asphaltenes constitute less than about 33.0 weight percent of the rejuvenated asphalt binder.

[0238] Embodiment 26: The reclaimed asphalt pavement of any one of Embodiments 1 through 25, wherein the rejuvenated asphalt binder exhibits a colloidal instability index- Page 74 - 25ASPRi8-WO-PCT(CII) less than about 0.75 after rolling thin film oven (RTFO) and 20-hour pressurized aging vessel (PAV) aging.

[0239] Embodiment 27: The reclaimed asphalt pavement of any of Embodiments 1 through 26, wherein the rejuvenated asphalt binder exhibits a colloidal instability index (CII) after rolling thin film oven (RTFO) and 20-hour pressurized aging vessel (PAV) aging within about 5.0 percent of a colloidal instability index of an unaged virgin asphalt binder.

[0240] Embodiment 28: The reclaimed asphalt pavement of any one of Embodiments 1 through 27, wherein the rejuvenated asphalt binder exhibits a Glover-Rowe Parameter (GRP) after three cycles of 20-hour pressurized aging vessel (PAV) aging lower than a Glover-Rowe Parameter of an unaged virgin asphalt binder after two cycles of 20-hour pressurized aging vessel aging.

[0241] Embodiment 29: A method of reclaiming asphalt pavement, the method comprising: obtaining a recycled paving asphalt comprising recycled aggregate material coated with aged asphalt binder; forming a rejuvenation mixture comprising: an ester bottoms material including a methyl ester material; and a low viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material; heating the rejuvenation mixture to a temperature higher than about 100°C; and mixing the rejuvenation mixture with the recycled paving asphalt to form reclaimed asphalt pavement comprising the recycled aggregate material coated with a rejuvenated asphalt binder coated on surfaces of the recycled aggregate material, the rejuvenated asphalt binder comprising the aged asphalt binder and the rejuvenation mixture.

[0242] Embodiment 30: The method of Embodiment 29, wherein the ester bottoms material constitutes from 0.1 weight percent to about 5.0 weight percent of the rejuvenated asphalt binder.

[0243] Embodiment 31: The method of Embodiment 29 or Embodiment 30, wherein the low viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material constitutes from about 0.1 weight percent to about 4.0 weight percent of the rejuvenated asphalt binder.

[0244] Embodiment 32: The method of any one of Embodiment 29 through 31, further comprising an unaged virgin asphalt binder with the rejuvenation mixture and the recycled paving asphalt to form the reclaimed asphalt pavement.

[0245] Embodiment 33: A rejuvenated asphalt binder, comprising: an aged asphalt binder; from about 0.10 weight percent to about 5.0 weight percent of an ester bottoms material comprising methyl esters, sodium soap, monoglycerides, diglycerides, triglycerides, and unsaponifiable materials; and from about 0.10 weight percent to about- Page 75 - 25ASPRi8-WO-PCT4.0 weight percent of a low viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material having a vacuum viscosity less than about 200 P at about 60°C.

[0246] One or more specific embodiments of the present disclosure are described herein. These described embodiments are examples of the presently disclosed techniques. Additionally, in an effort to provide a concise description of these embodiments, not all features of an actual embodiment may be described in the specification. It should be appreciated that in the development of any such actual implementation, as in any engineering or design project, numerous embodiment-specific decisions will be made to achieve the developers’ specific goals, such as compliance with system-related and business-related constraints, which may vary from one embodiment to another. Moreover, it should be appreciated that such a development effort might be complex and time consuming, but would nevertheless be a routine undertaking of design, fabrication, and manufacture for those of ordinary skill having the benefit of this disclosure.

[0247] The articles “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to mean that there are one or more of the elements in the preceding descriptions. The terms “comprising,” “including,” and “having” are intended to be inclusive and mean that there may be additional elements other than the listed elements. Additionally, it should be understood that references to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” of the present disclosure are not intended to be interpreted as excluding the existence of additional embodiments that also incorporate the recited features. For example, any element described in relation to an embodiment herein may be combinable with any element of any other embodiment described herein. Numbers, percentages, ratios, or other values stated herein are intended to include that value, and also other values that are “about” or “approximately” the stated value, as would be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art encompassed by embodiments of the present disclosure. A stated value should therefore be interpreted broadly enough to encompass values that are at least close enough to the stated value to perform a desired function or achieve a desired result. The stated values include at least the variation to be expected in a suitable manufacturing or production process, and may include values that are within 5%, within 1%, within 0.1%, or within 0.01% of a stated value.

[0248] A person having ordinary skill in the art should realize in view of the present disclosure that equivalent constructions do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure, and that various changes, substitutions, and alterations may be made to embodiments disclosed herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. Equivalent constructions, including functional “means-plus-function” clauses- Page 76 - 25ASPRi8-WO-PCTare intended to cover the structures described herein as performing the recited function, including both structural equivalents that operate in the same manner, and equivalent structures that provide the same function. It is the express intention of the applicant not to invoke means-plus-function or other functional claiming for any claim except for those in which the words ‘means for’ appear together with an associated function. Each addition, deletion, and modification to the embodiments that falls within the meaning and scope of the claims is to be embraced by the claims.

[0249] The terms “approximately,” “about,” and “substantially” as used herein represent an amount close to the stated amount that still performs a desired function or achieves a desired result. For example, the terms “approximately,” “about,” and “substantially” may refer to an amount that is within less than 5% of, within less than 1% of, within less than 0.1% of, and within less than 0.01% of a stated amount. Further, it should be understood that any directions or reference frames in the preceding description are merely relative directions or movements. For example, any references to “up” and “down” or “above” or “below” are merely descriptive of the relative position or movement of the related elements.

[0250] The present disclosure may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or characteristics. The described embodiments are to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the disclosure is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. Changes that come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.- Page 77 - 25ASPRi8-WO-PCT

Claims

CLAIMSWhat is claimed is:

1. A reclaimed asphalt pavement, comprising:a rejuvenated asphalt binder comprising:an aged asphalt binder;a biomaterial comprising an ester bottoms material including a methyl ester material; anda low viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material; andan aggregate material coated with the rejuvenated asphalt binder.

2. The reclaimed asphalt pavement of claim 1, wherein the biomaterial constitutes from about 0.1 weight percent to about 5.0 weight percent of the rejuvenated asphalt binder.

3. The reclaimed asphalt pavement of claim 1, wherein:an aromatic content of the ester bottoms material is within a range of from about 5.0 weight percent to about 10.0 weight percent; anda resin content of the ester bottoms material is within a range of from about 85.0 weight percent to about 95.0 weight percent.

4. The reclaimed asphalt pavement of claim 1, wherein the ester bottoms material comprises methyl esters, monoglycerides, diglycerides, and triglycerides.

5. The reclaimed asphalt pavement of claim 1, wherein a methyl ester content of the ester bottoms material is within a range of from about 5.0 weight percent to about 20.0 weight percent.

6. The reclaimed asphalt pavement of claim 1, wherein the ester bottoms material comprise methyl esters, sodium soap, monoglycerides, diglycerides, triglycerides, or unsaponifiable materials.

7. The reclaimed asphalt pavement of claim 6, wherein the unsaponifiable materials constitute at least about 2.0 weight percent of the ester bottoms material.- Page 78 - 25ASPRi8-WO-PCT8. The reclaimed asphalt pavement of claim 1, wherein the biomaterial further comprises a biomaterial derived from one or more biooils, wherein:resins constitute greater than about 80.0 weight percent of the biomaterial derived from one or more biooils; andthe biomaterial derived from one or more biooils is substantially free of saturates and asphaltenes.

9. The reclaimed asphalt pavement of claim 1, wherein the biomaterial has a specific gravity within a range of from about 0.82 to about 0.86.

10. The reclaimed asphalt pavement of claim 1, wherein the low viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material exhibits a vacuum viscosity measured at about 60°C within a range of from about 1 Poise to about 200 Poise.

11. The reclaimed asphalt pavement of claim 1, wherein the low viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material constitutes from about 0.1 weight percent to about 4.0 weight percent of the rejuvenated asphalt binder.

12. The reclaimed asphalt pavement of claim 1, wherein the low viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material includes a bimodal distribution of C6to C25hydrocarbons and C25 to C35 hydrocarbons, as measured by using staged thermal extraction gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (TE GC-MS).

13. The reclaimed asphalt pavement of claim 1, wherein the low viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material exhibits an initial boiling point within a range of from about 413°C to about 423°C and an endpoint within a range of from about 704.4°C to about 748.9°C.

14. The reclaimed asphalt pavement of claim 1, wherein low viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material includes from about 10.0 weight percent to about 25.0 weight percent resins and from about 10.0 weight percent to about 20.0 weight percent asphaltenes.- Page 79 - 25ASPRi8-WO-PCT15. The reclaimed asphalt pavement of claim 1, wherein a weight percent of the ester bottoms material in the rejuvenated asphalt binder is equal to or higher than a weight percent of the low viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material in the rejuvenated asphalt binder.

16. The reclaimed asphalt pavement of claim 1, wherein the rejuvenated asphalt binder is free of virgin asphalt binder.

17. The reclaimed asphalt pavement of claim 1, wherein the rejuvenated asphalt binder further comprises a virgin asphalt binder.

18. The reclaimed asphalt pavement of claim 1, wherein the aged asphalt binder constitutes greater than about 90.0 weight percent of the rejuvenated asphalt binder.

19. The reclaimed asphalt pavement of claim 1, wherein the rejuvenated asphalt binder exhibits a higher phase angle than that of the aged asphalt binder at temperatures exceeding about 25°C.

20. The reclaimed asphalt pavement of claim 1, wherein the rejuvenated asphalt binder exhibits a complex shear modulus (G*) lower than that of the aged asphalt binder at temperatures exceeding about 25°C.

21. The reclaimed asphalt pavement of claim 1, wherein the rejuvenated asphalt binder exhibits a ATChigher than about -5.0°C after three cycles of 20-hour pressurized aging vessel (PAV) aging.

22. The reclaimed asphalt pavement of claim 1, wherein the rejuvenated asphalt binder exhibits a ATCat least 60 percent higher than that of the aged asphalt binder.

23. The reclaimed asphalt pavement of claim 1, wherein resins constitute greater than about 45.0 weight percent of the rejuvenated asphalt binder.

24. The reclaimed asphalt pavement of claim 1, wherein resins constitute greater than about 48.0 weight percent of the rejuvenated asphalt binder.- Page 80 - 25ASPRi8-WO-PCT25. The reclaimed asphalt pavement of claim 1, wherein asphaltenes constitute less than about 33.0 weight percent of the rejuvenated asphalt binder.

26. The reclaimed asphalt pavement of claim 1, wherein the rejuvenated asphalt binder exhibits a colloidal instability index (CII) less than about 0.75 after rolling thin film oven (RTFO) and 20-hour pressurized aging vessel (PAV) aging.

27. The reclaimed asphalt pavement of claim 1, wherein the rejuvenated asphalt binder exhibits a colloidal instability index (CII) after rolling thin film oven (RTFO) and 20-hour pressurized aging vessel (PAV) aging within about 5.0 percent of a colloidal instability index of an unaged virgin asphalt binder.

28. The reclaimed asphalt pavement of claim 1, wherein the rejuvenated asphalt binder exhibits a Glover-Rowe Parameter (GRP) after three cycles of 20-hour pressurized aging vessel (PAV) aging lower than a Glover-Rowe Parameter of an unaged virgin asphalt binder after two cycles of 20-hour pressurized aging vessel aging.

29. A method of reclaiming asphalt pavement, the method comprising: obtaining a recycled paving asphalt comprising recycled aggregate material coated with aged asphalt binder;forming a rejuvenation mixture comprising:an ester bottoms material including a methyl ester material; anda low viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material;heating the rejuvenation mixture to a temperature higher than about 100°C; and mixing the rejuvenation mixture with the recycled paving asphalt to form reclaimed asphalt pavement comprising the recycled aggregate material coated with a rejuvenated asphalt binder coated on surfaces of the recycled aggregate material, the rejuvenated asphalt binder comprising the aged asphalt binder and the rejuvenation mixture.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the ester bottoms material constitutes from 0.1 weight percent to about 5.0 weight percent of the rejuvenated asphalt binder.- Page 81 - 25ASPRi8-WO-PCT31. The method of claim 29, wherein the low viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material constitutes from about 0.1 weight percent to about 4.0 weight percent of the rejuvenated asphalt binder.

32. The method of claim 29, further comprising an unaged virgin asphalt binder with the rejuvenation mixture and the recycled paving asphalt to form the reclaimed asphalt pavement.

33. A rejuvenated asphalt binder, comprising:an aged asphalt binder;from about 0.10 weight percent to about 5.0 weight percent of an ester bottoms material comprising methyl esters, sodium soap, monoglycerides, diglycerides, triglycerides, and unsaponifiable materials; andfrom about 0.10 weight percent to about 4.0 weight percent of a low viscosity vacuum tower bottoms material having a vacuum viscosity less than about 200 P at about 60°C.- Page 82 - 25ASPRi8-WO-PCT

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