Asphalt Binder Homogeneity via Plastic Dissolution in Aromatic Diesel
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for incorporating urban solid waste plastics into asphalt binders face challenges in achieving a homogeneous mixture, leading to segregation issues during storage and inconsistent product quality, especially when dealing with pre-salt oil residues that require specific consistency adjustments.
Innovation Solution
A process involving the dissolution of polypropylene and polyethylene plastics from urban solid waste in a heavy diesel stream with aromatic compounds, which is then added to asphalt residue to produce a stable and homogeneous asphalt binder suitable for producing PAC with improved consistency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If urban solid waste plastics are incorporated directly into asphalt binders, then the sustainability and environmental benefits are improved, but the mixture homogeneity deteriorates leading to segregation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a heavy diesel stream with aromatic compounds as an intermediary medium to dissolve the plastics before incorporating them into the asphalt binder. This mediator enables complete interaction between the plastic and asphalt components, preventing segregation while maintaining the sustainability benefits of using urban solid waste plastics.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical and chemical parameters of the plastic incorporation process by dissolving plastics in a heavy diesel stream with specific aromatic content (at least 20% aromatics) before adding to asphalt residue. This parameter change ensures complete dissolution and homogeneous mixing, resolving the segregation issue while maintaining sustainability.
2Productivity
If pre-salt oil residues are used to produce vacuum residues, then the utilization of available feedstock is improved, but the consistency becomes difficult to adjust requiring high diluent content
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the consistency parameters by incorporating dissolved plastics into the asphalt residue, which modifies the rheological properties and allows achievement of desired penetration values without requiring high diluent content that would cause light particle accumulation and specification failure.
3Ease of manufacture
If polymer is added directly into the asphalt product, then the modification is simplified, but complete interaction and homogeneity are difficult to achieve
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by dissolving the plastics in the heavy diesel stream before incorporating the solution into the asphalt residue. This preliminary dissolution ensures complete interaction between plastic and asphalt components, achieving homogeneity that cannot be obtained by direct addition, while the process remains practical and manufacturable.
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to embodiments of a process for producing asphalt binder containing a mixture of soft plastics from urban solid waste rich in polypropylene and polyethylene. The asphalt binder produced may be applied in the production of diluent suitable for the production of PAC with pre-salt RASF.