Application of attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) and principal component analysis (PCA) for quick identifying of the bitumen produced by different manufacturers

As bitumen from different manufacturers exhibit different properties, which may impact on the performance of asphalt pavement, currently it is necessary to implement appropriate methods in order to classify or identify the source of bitumen. In this work, 15 bitumen samples from three different manufacturers were collected and analysed by attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR). The spectrum data were analysed by data pretreatment and principal component analysis (PCA). The PCA score plot reveals that the bitumen samples were successfully solved in three distinct regions, and each cluster comprised bitumen from the same manufacturer. Furthermore, the regression model was obtained by PCA and validated by detecting testing bitumen samples, which exhibited high correct identification rates. The results suggested that PCA-assisted ATR-FTIR spectroscopy could be a promising rapid and accurate method for classifying and identifying the source of bitumen, and would be capable of further identification of bitumen and bitumen-derived products.