Incorporating Sustainable Practices in Asphalt Industry

Abstract

Shrink of nonrenewable natural resources and the pollution generated by many manufacturing industries have initiated a global determination for pushing the industry toward more sustainable products. Asphalt as the principal element of almost any street and highway pavement is integral in transportation development, which, in turn, is pivotal for sustainable development. On the other hand, the material consumption and pollution generated in the asphalt industry pose significant threats to the environment and, therefore, to sustainability. This chapter reflects some of the sustainability concerns of the asphalt industry and discusses some of the possible solutions to mitigate them. The sustainability considerations are categorized into four phases of asphalt life cycle namely: (1) extraction of materials, (2) processing of raw materials, (3) transportation of asphalt raw materials and products, and (4) reusing and recycling at the end of a pavement's life. In each phase, best practices to improve and maintain the sustainability of asphalt pavements are discussed. This chapter also discusses sustainable approaches and technologies in the asphalt industry such as warm mixes, permeable asphalt pavements as well as the potentials for improving the mechanical properties of asphalt pavements particularly in terms of resisting heavy load traffic, clogging, and freeze-thaw.

Opportunities and Challenges of Green-Lean: An Integrated System for Sustainable Construction

“…Sustainable development has been able to establish its essentiality in recent decades due to the raised awareness about the alarming environmental challenges such as global warming, air and water pollution, and depletion of natural resources [1][2][3][4][5]. The strong ties between environmental concerns and urban development as one of the primary generators of material wastes and consumers of water and energy have also been recognized by many governments as well as construction industry professionals and decision-makers.…”

The beneficiation of asphalt waste through conversion into an efficient activated carbon adsorbent for diazinon pesticide, optimized through response surface methodology

“…By implementing stringent safety protocols, investing in state-of-the-art processing facilities, and ensuring regulatory compliance, the risks associated with asphalt-derived activated carbon can be minimized, allowing for the realization of its vast potential as a versatile and sustainable raw material. [21][22][23] The asphalt used as a starting material was recovered using rotary evaporation (Rotavap) process (Fig. 1).…”