Conversion of Oklahoma waste coal into road asphalt (FHWA-OK-83-04) 2113

Abstract

This report has been prepared to inform the Oklahoma Department of Transportation the progress on the project: Conversion of Oklahoma Waste Coal into Road Asphalt, as well as to provide enough information so that co-workers at the ODOT can readily duplicate the described procedures. Part I provides background material which introduces the techniques normally used to separate and characterize chemical samples, as well as examples of asphalt fingerprinting using these concepts. This initial effort clearly demonstrates that when a reference library of asphalts and their separation and spectroscopic properties is established, effective fingerprinting will be available. Part II describes the major effort of this project; a study of the laboratory feasibility of converting waste Oklahoma coal into an asphalt extender. This effort confirms the hypothesis that this coal can be converted into a liquid material by hydrogenation. This substance however, has no miscibility with petroleum asphalt. When animal fat or linseed oil is added to the reaction mixture prior to hydrogenation, a material is obtained which has short term miscibility with petroleum asphalt. This product has excellent chemical properties; however, it has a low penetration and ductility parameters which indicate that it would best serve as an asphalt extender. It is reasonable assume that the fat or oil serves as a source of straight chain hydrocarbons which interact with the aromatic coal structure which compatible with petroleum asphalt.