Asphalt Mixture Using Digestate Additive for Binder Modification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current asphalt mixture compositions face challenges with durability and environmental impact due to the limitations of bitumen, including high adhesiveness, poor workability, and significant environmental concerns related to bitumen usage and waste management.
Innovation Solution
The replacement of part or all of the bitumen in asphalt mixture compositions with digestate additive, derived from anaerobic digestion of organic waste, which improves the composition's properties and sustainability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If bitumen is used as binder in asphalt mixture composition, then the mixture achieves adequate binding strength, but the workability deteriorates due to high adhesiveness and the environmental impact increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the bitumen binder by changing its chemical and physical parameters through the addition of modifiers and surfactants. This alters the viscosity and adhesiveness characteristics, improving workability while maintaining binding strength through controlled parameter adjustment of the binder system
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite binder system by combining bitumen with modifiers and surfactants. This composite material approach allows the system to exhibit both adequate binding strength from the bitumen component and improved workability from the modifier and surfactant components
2Strength
If bitumen is used as binder in asphalt mixture composition, then the mixture achieves adequate binding strength, but the environmental footprint increases due to bitumen usage and waste management issues
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the binder composition to reduce environmental impact while maintaining binding strength through the incorporation of environmentally friendly modifiers and surfactants that alter the performance characteristics without relying solely on conventional bitumen
Solution Approach 2:
The patent addresses environmental concerns by enabling the recycling and recovery of binder materials. The modified binder system allows for better reusability and reduces waste management issues associated with conventional bitumen, aligning with sustainable construction practices
3Object-affected harmful factors
If digestate additive is used to replace bitumen, then the environmental footprint is reduced and cost-effectiveness is improved, but the adhesiveness may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces surfactants as intermediary substances that facilitate the transition from bitumen-based to digestate-based binding systems. These surfactants act as mediators that maintain adhesion properties even when digestate replaces bitumen, bridging the performance gap between conventional and alternative binders
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite binding system where digestate is combined with surfactants and potentially other modifiers. This composite approach allows the system to achieve both the environmental benefits of digestate replacement and the adhesive performance through synergistic interactions among the composite components
4Ease of manufacture
If digestate additive is used to replace bitumen, then cost-effectiveness is improved, but the reliability of the asphalt mixture may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent systematically adjusts the composition parameters of the binder system when using digestate, optimizing the ratios of digestate, surfactants, and other modifiers to maintain reliable performance. This controlled parameter adjustment ensures that cost-effective digestate-based formulations achieve comparable reliability to conventional bitumen mixtures
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs surfactants and modifiers as intermediary substances that enhance the performance and reliability of digestate-based binders. These intermediaries compensate for potential deficiencies in digestate alone, ensuring consistent and reliable asphalt mixture performance while maintaining cost-effectiveness
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to asphalt mixture compositions, suitable for building roads, pavements and paved areas, roofing, vehicle parking areas, house-drives, footways, recreation areas such as tennis courts or playgrounds, agricultural uses such as farm roads or animal cubicles, airfields, runways and access roads, hard standings, storage areas, hydraulic applications such as dam construction, coastal protection and other. The present invention also concerns a method of providing such compositions and various uses thereof. In particular, this invention concerns the replacement of, at least a part of, a binder or a binder composition comprised by said asphalt mixture composition, said binder or binder composition preferably being bitumen or polymer modified bitumen, with digestate additive and one or more further component(s), such as aggregate(s), additive(s) and/or filler(s).