Laboratory Assessment of Fumes Generated by Bituminous Mixtures and Bitumen

ABSTRACT More and more demanding health and environmental criteria are involved in the construction field and thus in road construction and maintenance domain. This requires a better understanding of the fumes generated during the manufacturing of hydrocarbon based material. In this study, laboratory devices allowing the collection of fumes from bituminous mixtures and bitumen itself have been developed. The analysis of emitted Total Organic Compounds is continuously carried out during mixing, using a flame ionization detector type TOC analyser. Firstly, feasibility measurements are performed to establish a reliable test protocol and to determine the test repeatability. Then, the evolution of the organic emissions from asphalt with time is studied. The results obtained highlight the influence of mixing conditions on the quantity of the emitted total organic compounds. This study shows also the stirring process influence on TOC emissions from bitumen as well as their progressive exhaustion during long-term tests. The addition of steamed water to the bitumen leads to an increase of emitted Total Organic Compounds. An interpretation of these results is performed in this paper.