Multimethod Approach to Investigate the Factors Influencing High-Temperature Fuming of Bitumen

Abstract

Bitumen is heated at high temperatures during asphalt paving applications. In these circumstances, there is the possibility for fuming. These fumes can vary in intensity and, if significant, may attract complaints. The bitumen's chemical composition depends on the crude oil from which it originates. A tool to screen bitumen and evaluate its potential to release fumes would be highly beneficial. In this study, three methods have been employed to investigate a series of bitumen samples that were known to produce complaints by (a) quantifying benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and m, o, p-xylene (BTEX), (b) measuring the partition coefficients of these analytes, and (c) measuring the volatile mass of bitumen exposed to isothermal heating. It was found that the concentration of BTEX varied significantly between bitumen samples. The partition coefficients of these analytes are substantially the same between samples. Finally, the volatile mass of each sample varies significantly between samples, independent of bitumen grade or country of origin. These volatile masses correlate strongly with fuming complaints from bitumen and can be used as predictors of bitumen fuming risk.