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This study reports the exploitation of Garden cress Lepidium sativum L. seed as a novel non-edible raw feedstock for producing high yield and quality biodiesels vial the optimized alcoholysis reaction. The satisfactory oil content of the Garden cress seeds (28.50± 1.50 % w/w) encouraged its utilization for biodiesel (BD) creation. The garden cress seed oil (GCSO) was transesterified with ethanol and a blend of methanol and ethanol via optimized alkali-catalyzed alcoholysis reaction. The typical reaction conditions, which resulted in the maximum yield of the ethylic BD (90.45 ± 2.0 % were 1.0 wt.% KOH, 8:1 ethanol: GCSO molar ratio, 65 ℃ for a duration of 75 minutes, while 0.80 wt.% KOH, 6:1 mixed alcohols: GCSO molar ratio, 60 ℃, and a duration of 1h, were the typical experimental conditions, which produced the superlative yield of MEBD (97.50± 1.50%,). Transformation of the GCSO to its corresponding alkyl esters was certified through the FTIR, 1 H NMR, and thinlayer chromatography studies. Besides, fuel properties of the pristine GCSO have noticeably changed and obeyed the ASTM criteria as a result of the alcoholysis reaction of GCSO with the said alcohols. Blends prepared by blending BD samples with petro diesel at various ratios (v/v) exhibited their compatibility with the specifications fixed by the ASTM standards. The alcoholysis reaction of the GCSO obeyed the first-order kinetics with activation energy values of 30.71 kJ/mol for the ethanolysis of the GCSO, and 32.93 kJ/mol for the transesterification with mixed methanol/ethanol alcohols. This study disclosed that the GCSO possessed the potential to be utilized as a successful alternative to petroleum-based diesel.

Oxidation by air blowing for different periods of time was used to modify the physical properties of asphalt. The effect of this treatment on the compatibility of asphalt with sulfur was studied using microscopic examination of more than oneyear aged samples. Improved compatibility of asphalt-sulfur blends was noticed with sulfur percentages of up to 15% by weight.