Recycling Asphalt

Combining the excellent adhesion properties of bitumen with the shape stability of minerals, led to modern road construction in 1870. Since that time the use of asphalt concrete has grown up to 2.190.000.000 tons every year in the entire world. Every 20 years asphalt concrete has to be replaced because of the adhesion reduction between minerals and bitumen. Worldwide that provides a controversial amount of waste because most materials (minerals) have a duration lifetime for thousands of years.

Since 2010 the possibilty of recycling asphalt to almost 100% without loss of quality exists. The ageing part of asphalt, bitumen, can be re-used by adding a small amount of rejuvenation agent into the mixes. Since the large scale investigation and testing period was ten years, it is now possible to recycle asphalt into the highest ratio, by adding RheoFalt- AM of about 0,3% in the asphaltmix. Several techniques are available to recycle asphalt between 40% and 100%, while normal asphalt plants can use recycling up to 40% without changing anything on their plant, by using the rejuvenation agent.

This solution is not only an advantage for environmental benefits. It is very simple to imagine all the heavy materials that have to be (urban)mined, transported, and after 20 years become waste material having a great economic influence. If 50% recycling is used cost prices reduce by 30% while total recycling lowers the costs by more than 50% In normal production capacities of 100.000 tons a year, investing in parallel drum techniques is earned back in about five years.

Co2 emissions are halved, one of the largest reductions known in heavy industries .

Recycling asphalt has grown to a proven technology. With lots of university studies, long lasting pilots and lifetime monitoring, 100% recycled asphalt is the future standard in every way. Read more in our sub-pages.

Environmental effects

RheoFalt HP-AM ensures that aged bitumen with an increased asphaltenes content is again improved to a new value. RheoFalt HP-AM does not do this by reducing the content of asphaltenes, but by isolating the polar effect. This makes both aged bitumen 100% reusable, as well as the current bitumen can be used without disturbing the colloidal equilibrium.

Effects on investment

Bitumen supply is becoming scarce, and therefore it is expected that the price will rise within the next three years. The bitumen price determines the largest part of the production price. The current technical production facilities have experience with 70% recycling of base- and bind layers of asphalt and 0-30% in surface layers.

RAP handling and preparation

The road building industry is aware that building roads requires raw materials and energy that burdens the environment. Looking for an optimal reuse of material from the ones they made before has been part of researching projects for years.This report shows the practical handling and preparation of RAP, from removed asphalt to the most processed controlled grading of RAP.

Rejuvenation on site

A natural resin additive used to recycle asphalt up to 100%. By using this resin it is possible to rejuvenate asphalt to its original properties without any compromise concerning quality. Reduction in costs and use of raw materials.

History

In 1970 the parallel drum was introduced. This offered the opportunity to heat up the RAP in a separate drum. The parallel drum was a copy of the normal heating drum, with an adjustment to the paddles inside the drum to maintain a good heating process. This parallel drum gave asphalt plants the possibility to recycle up to 60%. Until now, most of the parallel drums have a similar layout combined with better heating techniques.