Aston scientists pave way for greener roads made of domestic waste
- Scientists at Aston University convert mixed household waste into road surfacing material for the first time
- New industrial process can use food waste, plastic, paper and textiles to produce a tarmac-like substance
- Is this the beginning of the end for carbon-coughing bitumen? Study authors say ‘bio-bitumen’ is cheaper and greener to manufacture.
Scientists at Aston University have developed a new way to convert organic bin waste such as decomposed food, paper and plastic into a substance suitable for laying roads and pavements.
The process, developed by academics at the university’s European Bioenergy Research Institute (EBRI) and the Aston Institute of Materials Research (AIMR), breaks down the mixed household bin waste to produce a black, highly viscous fluid similar to bitumen – a material commonly used in road surfacing.
The study, which has already received interest from Birmingham City Council and Highways England, could pave the way to a cheaper and greener alternative to the current method of extracting bitumen from crude oil, a practice that has been used to create pavements and roads in Britain since the early 19th century.
The researchers believe their material will use at least four times more “waste fraction” than the ‘plastic road’ pilots currently being tested by several UK councils.
Asphalt, produced by mixing bitumen with minerals, is one of the biggest sources of carbon emissions in road construction. In 2016 the UK produced 26 million tonnes of hot and warm mix asphalt – the equivalent of 26 million cars driving non-stop for an hour.1
If widely adopted, the method could also reduce the 7.7 million tonnes of biodegradable municipal waste that is sent to landfill each year.
The material, called bio-bitumen, is produced by placing the organic waste in a reactor and heating it to around 500°C in the absence of oxygen.
The process is called pyrolysis. It causes the chemical decomposition of organic, carbon-based materials and is often used in the production of biofuels. The researchers found that by changing the processing parameters, such as temperature, processing time and product collection strategy, they were able to alter the characteristics of the products to create a substance with very similar qualities to bitumen.
Dr Yang Yang, study author and EBRI researcher in biomass pyrolysis, said: “If the product is largely produced and widely applied, we would have a better way to convert our waste, including non-biodegradable plastic waste, into a high-value construction material, instead of current disposal practices such as landfill and incineration – both of which are harmful to the environment.
“In an industrial context, local authorities would send their waste to a treatment plant for the recovery of recyclable materials such as metals, then the remaining waste would be treated by our patented intermediate pyrolysis technology. “We can use this to create a bio-bitumen which could be directly applied or blended with conventional bitumen for different purposes, such as foaming asphalt, emulsified asphalt or asphalt concrete.”
Further research and funding is needed to create a product of a standard that industry could roll out on a large scale. But Yang believes this is achievable.
Dr Yuqing Zhang, study author and AIMR researcher in highway engineering, said: “Currently, we would need to blend our material into conventional bitumen for road applications such as asphalt, but ultimately our aim is to develop the product to replace it all together.
“To do this, we need to carry out further tests on the many components that make up organic household waste and conduct more research into product upgrading.
“We have already had interest from Highways England and Birmingham City Council in our research, and we’re eager to make progress and demonstrate how this material could spark a sharp decline in the pollution created in the production of asphalt.”
Last year UK councils began to test the use of ‘plastic roads’ after a manufacturer developed an asphalt mixture which contained 0.5% plastic recycled from bottles and bags.
The plastic is converted into pellets and then melted into the traditional asphalt mixture, making the road stronger and longer-lasting.
But the researchers say that their new process is better for road surfacing as well as the environment.
“The ‘plastic roads’ only use a relatively small amount of plastic, and still rely heavily on traditional asphalt,” Yang added.
“What we use is black bin waste, which includes not only plastic but a wide range of organic materials. What’s more, we expect to be able to significantly increase the proportion of the renewable parts, or the ‘bio-fraction’, in the final asphalt mixture product for road surfacing.”
The academics are based at EBRI – a bioenergy research institute led by Professor Tony Bridgwater, based at Aston University in Birmingham.
The centre works with businesses and local authorities to improve their performance and help the environment by exploring how they can use low-cost, greener bioenergy sources.
EBRI has helped a variety of organisations – from consulting on a renewable heat source for a community centre in Telford to giving guidance to the founder of Recorked UK – a social enterprise dedicated to recycling bottle corks across the country.
Notes to the editor
- In 2016 the UK produced 26 million tonnes of hot and warm mix asphalt, according to the 2016 Asphalt in Figures report by European Asphalt Pavement Association. In 2016, asphalt production emitted 27kg of carbon dioxide per tonne in the UK, an increase of 7% on the year before, according to the Mineral Products Association. 27kg of CO2 would also be emitted by an average car being driven non-stop for 1.05 hours, according to the YouSustain CO2 emmissions calculator.
- The bio-bitumen project has received letters of support from both Highways England and Birmingham City Council. Highways England has confirmed its interest in becoming a partner organisation for the project by facilitating access to relevant information and contributing to the dissemination and implementation of any findings. Similarly, Birmingham City Council has stated its interest in the project findings and confirmed its support by providing access to relevant data, as well as offering ‘to explore how the findings can be integrated into city infrastructure plans’.
The study authors are available for non-broadcast interviews. Please contact the press office to arrange (details below).
Original research paper
This press release is based on the research paper ‘Intermediate pyrolysis of organic fraction of municipal solid waste and rheological study of the pyrolysis oil for potential use as bio-bitumen’ published in the Journal of Cleaner Production. It can be accessed via ScienceDirect.
About Aston University
Founded in 1895 and a University since 1966, Aston is a long established university led by its three main beneficiaries – students, business and the professions, and our region and society. Aston University is located in Birmingham and at the heart of a vibrant city and the campus houses all the university’s academic, social and accommodation facilities for our students. Professor Alec Cameron is the Vice Chancellor & Chief Executive.
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