The project, which CETIM is collaborating with ENCE and MISTURAS, will develop cold and warm bituminous mixtures with improved mechanical and rheological performance, to achieve a significant reduction in the carbon footprint and boost the circular economy in the sector.
Test in the CETIM’s construction laboratory.
The use of raw materials with a lower carbon footprint, renewable and circular, which contribute to the conservation of the environment, has become a fundamental principle in the construction sector in recent years. Especially after a United Nations Environment Programme report showed that the sector was responsible for more than 34% of global energy demand and around 37% of CO2 emissions associated with energy and its operations during 2021, reaching an all-time high.
To address these challenges, the scientific community and companies are seeking solutions through cooperative R&D&I projects, such as BITÚMINA. This initiative will replace the use of a petroleum-derived resource with a natural-based one, thus contributing to the production of more sustainable materials.
With the participation of CETIM and the University of Santiago de Compostela, in alliance with ENCE and MISTURAS, BITÚMINA will research and develop cold and warm bituminous mixtures with improved mechanical and rheological performance, with a significant reduction of the carbon footprint, through the use of bio-betunes and bituminous emulsions based on modified Kraft chemically or additivated with oils lignin, and also incorporating waste materials from asphalt mixes to replace natural aggregate.
Scientific-business collaboration
CETIM is currently collaborating in the generation and characterisation of modified or additivated lignins for use in bituminous mixtures, as well as in the development and characterisation of bitumens, emulsions and sustainable cold and warm bituminous mixtures through the use of bio-bitumens, emulsions and mixtures based on this modified or additivated Kraft lignin, or incorporating Reclaimed Asphalt Pavement (RAP) as aggregates.
In this sense, cold and warm asphalt mixes are a more environmentally friendly alternative to traditional asphalt mixes. In addition, the incorporation of bio-based materials, by-products or waste such as lignin and material from road milling (RAP) will contribute to the promotion of a low-carbon circular economy.
In BITÚMINA, which is co-financed by CDTI with Next Generation EU funds, we will propose innovative solutions over 30 months to improve the existing environmental needs of the construction industry, such as climate change mitigation, adaptation to climate change, sustainable use and protection of water resources, transition to a circular economy, pollution prevention and control, protection and recovery of biodiversity and preservation of natural ecosystems.