Chemical Characterization of Biobinder from Swine Manure: Sustainable Modifier for Asphalt Binder

TLDR

Swine manure management constraints and rising asphalt demand motivate a sustainable biobinder that could improve environmental and economic outcomes for agriculture and construction. The study aims to develop a biobinder from swine manure that replaces petroleum asphalt, reducing resource depletion, pollution, and greenhouse gas emissions. Swine manure was hydrothermally converted to bio‑oil, fractionated to isolate a sticky residue that was used as a partial asphalt binder replacement and chemically and rheologically characterized against petroleum asphalt. The biobinder proved a promising partial substitute, enhancing low‑temperature performance and cutting pavement costs to $0.13/L versus $0.53/L for petroleum asphalt.

Abstract

This paper presents the production, modification, and characterization of biobinder from swine manure. A hydrothermal process was used to convert swine manure to a bio-oil. The bio-oil was fractionated to extract water, solid residue, and some of the organic compounds. The sticky residue after fractionation was used as a replacement for asphalt binder. This paper presents production and chemical and rheological characterization of the biobinder as compared with petroleum-asphalt binder. Biobinder from swine manure was found to be a promising candidate for partial replacement for petroleum-asphalt binder. Considering the limitations imposed on growth of swine farms by manure management practices and environmental regulations and the increasing demand for asphalt binder for infrastructure rehabilitation, this sustainable development will result in major improvements in environmental and economical impacts in both the agricultural and construction sectors. Hence, this study offers a unique approach that simultaneously addresses the increased depletion of petroleum resources the growing swine manure pollution and released greenhouse gases and the development of sustainable alternative for petroleum-asphalt binder. The use of biobinder will improve petroleum-asphalt binder's low temperature properties while reducing asphalt pavement construction costs; the cost of biobinder production is estimated to be $0.13/L ($0.54/gal.) and that of asphalt binder is $0.53/L ($2/gal).