Oct. 8,
2010, Ames, IA – An Iowa State University researcher is testing the utility of
pyrolysis oil as a replacement for asphalt derived from petroleum. Dr.
Christopher Williams, associate professor of civil, construction, and
environmental engineering, was initially trying to see if adding pyrolysis oil
to asphalt would improve the hot- and cold-weather performance of pavements.
Now, he’s involved with a demonstration project that paved part of a Des
Moines, Iowa, bicycle trail with an asphalt mixture containing what is now
known as Bioasphalt.
A
successful demonstration could create a new market for forest and agricultural
biomass. It would also save energy and money in the paving process because
Bioasphalt can be mixed and paved at lower temperatures than conventional
asphalt.
The
pyrolysis oil used in the project was produced from oak. Williams says the
project is using a mix of 5% Bioasphalt. He says a successful demonstration
would lead to more pavement tests containing higher and higher percentages of
the material.
For more
information, see: http://www.news.iastate.edu/news/2010/oct/Bioasphalt.
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