Improving asphalt concrete durability through soda lignin powder

Lignin has emerged as a promising asphalt binder modifier due to its sustainable and renewable nature, with the potential to improve flexible pavement performance. This study investigates the use of Soda Lignin Powder (SLP), derived from Pinus wood sawdust via alkaline treatment, as an asphalt modif...

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Main Authors: Aya K. Albayati, Amjad H. Albayati
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-03-01
Series:Transportation Engineering
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666691X24000745
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author Aya K. Albayati
Amjad H. Albayati
author_facet Aya K. Albayati
Amjad H. Albayati
author_sort Aya K. Albayati
collection DOAJ
description Lignin has emerged as a promising asphalt binder modifier due to its sustainable and renewable nature, with the potential to improve flexible pavement performance. This study investigates the use of Soda Lignin Powder (SLP), derived from Pinus wood sawdust via alkaline treatment, as an asphalt modifier to enhance mixture durability. SLP was characterized using Fourier Transformation Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray Diffraction (XRD), and Scanning Electron Microscopy with Energy Dispersive X-ray Analysis (SEM/EDX), revealing significant changes in its chemical structure post-extraction. These analyses showed the presence of phenolic units, including hydroxyphenyl propane, syringyl, and guaiacyl units. The morphology of SLP was identified as irregular and spherical particles consisting of carbon, oxygen, nitrogen, and sulfur. Experimental evaluations involved three SLP dosages (2 %, 4 %, and 6 % by weight of asphalt binder), with tests for penetration, softening point, ductility and rotational viscosity. Additionally, the asphalt mixtures were tested for their performance in terms of moisture susceptibility, resilient modulus, permanent deformation, and fatigue resistance. Results indicated that SLP effectively reduces the temperature susceptibility of asphalt by increasing its stiffness and rotational viscosity. Furthermore, mixtures with 6 % SLP showed enhanced moisture resistance, with a Tensile Strength Ratio (TSR) of 86.98 %, a 74.1 % reduction in accumulated permanent deformation at 10,000 cycles, and a 38.1 % increase in the Cracking Tolerance Index (CT index) compared to the control mix (0 % SLP content). These findings confirm that SLP has the potential to be an effective additive in the design of asphalt mixture. Moreover, it allows producing endurable mixtures with higher resistance to distress.
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spelling doaj-art-4ac6ece2d1c64090aac4cfb5a81eb7322025-01-04T04:57:13ZengElsevierTransportation Engineering2666-691X2025-03-0119100300Improving asphalt concrete durability through soda lignin powderAya K. Albayati0Amjad H. Albayati1Civil Engineering Department, University of Baghdad, Baghdad, IraqCorresponding author.; Civil Engineering Department, University of Baghdad, Baghdad, IraqLignin has emerged as a promising asphalt binder modifier due to its sustainable and renewable nature, with the potential to improve flexible pavement performance. This study investigates the use of Soda Lignin Powder (SLP), derived from Pinus wood sawdust via alkaline treatment, as an asphalt modifier to enhance mixture durability. SLP was characterized using Fourier Transformation Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray Diffraction (XRD), and Scanning Electron Microscopy with Energy Dispersive X-ray Analysis (SEM/EDX), revealing significant changes in its chemical structure post-extraction. These analyses showed the presence of phenolic units, including hydroxyphenyl propane, syringyl, and guaiacyl units. The morphology of SLP was identified as irregular and spherical particles consisting of carbon, oxygen, nitrogen, and sulfur. Experimental evaluations involved three SLP dosages (2 %, 4 %, and 6 % by weight of asphalt binder), with tests for penetration, softening point, ductility and rotational viscosity. Additionally, the asphalt mixtures were tested for their performance in terms of moisture susceptibility, resilient modulus, permanent deformation, and fatigue resistance. Results indicated that SLP effectively reduces the temperature susceptibility of asphalt by increasing its stiffness and rotational viscosity. Furthermore, mixtures with 6 % SLP showed enhanced moisture resistance, with a Tensile Strength Ratio (TSR) of 86.98 %, a 74.1 % reduction in accumulated permanent deformation at 10,000 cycles, and a 38.1 % increase in the Cracking Tolerance Index (CT index) compared to the control mix (0 % SLP content). These findings confirm that SLP has the potential to be an effective additive in the design of asphalt mixture. Moreover, it allows producing endurable mixtures with higher resistance to distress.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666691X24000745BiomassSoda ligninModified asphaltSustainabilityDurability
spellingShingle Aya K. Albayati
Amjad H. Albayati
Improving asphalt concrete durability through soda lignin powder
Transportation Engineering
Biomass
Soda lignin
Modified asphalt
Sustainability
Durability
title Improving asphalt concrete durability through soda lignin powder
title_full Improving asphalt concrete durability through soda lignin powder
title_fullStr Improving asphalt concrete durability through soda lignin powder
title_full_unstemmed Improving asphalt concrete durability through soda lignin powder
title_short Improving asphalt concrete durability through soda lignin powder
title_sort improving asphalt concrete durability through soda lignin powder
topic Biomass
Soda lignin
Modified asphalt
Sustainability
Durability
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666691X24000745
work_keys_str_mv AT ayakalbayati improvingasphaltconcretedurabilitythroughsodaligninpowder
AT amjadhalbayati improvingasphaltconcretedurabilitythroughsodaligninpowder