Performance evaluation of petroleum hard pitch modified with rice straw bio-oil

In this present study, bio-binder was made using the bio-oil obtained from rice straw and petroleum hard pitch to reduce the air pollution caused by the burning of waste rice straw in the field. The physical, rheological, and chemical tests were conducted on the viscosity-grade binders (VG30 and VG40), petroleum hard pitch, and bio-binders prepared with a blending of petroleum hard pitch with 20 and 30 wt.%. The performance of bituminous mixes made with viscosity-grade binders and bio-binder was evaluated by using the dynamic creep, resilient modulus, and tensile strength tests. The results of the frequency sweep and Fourier transform infrared tests indicate that bio-binders have poor resistance to aging. The rut resistance of the bio-binder modified mix was better than that of the VG30 mix. There is no significant difference in moisture resistance of bituminous mixes prepared with bio-binder and viscosity-grade binders.