Enhancing Bituminous Concrete Mixes with Bio- Gas Plant Sludge: A Sustainable Approach to Road Construction

Abstract

Bituminous concrete is a composite material which consists of mineral aggregates, bitumen as a binder & air void. With the increase in energy cost & requirement of bitumen and other petroleum increases worldwide, and also the requirement of a better quality of pavements as well as worry about the pollution. The bitumen releases carbon dioxide when heated, which is very harmful to human health. We need to add some non-toxic material into the bitumen binder to reduce pollution. So, alternative binders are required to modify, partial replacement with Biogas Plant Sludge. Biogas Plant sludge is a residue obtained during the process of manufacturing of Biogas. This research is intended for partial replacement of bitumen binder with Biogas Plant Sludge. The study compares the results of conventional bitumen and bitumen containing Biogas Plant Sludge using laboratory tests. The tests which we performed are – penetration, ductility, softening point, Marshall Stability tests. We prepared samples having different percentages of bitumen and different percentages of Biogas Plant Sludge to find the optimum percentage. Percentage of bitumen (4%, 6% & 8%) and percentage of Biogas Plant Sludge by weight of bitumen (1%, 3%, 5%, 7% & 9%). The research study concludes that the partial replacement of bitumen with Biogas Plant Sludge improves the Marshall characteristics, and also the strength and stability increase at 6% bitumen content and 5% Biogas Plant Sludge content. Modified bitumen increases penetration and softening point. The specific gravity remains the same but ductility decreases. Release of carbon dioxide reduces as the amount of the bitumen reduces. Overall research conclude that the optimum value of modified bitumen is 5% which is feasible to partial replace bitumen with Biogas Plant Sludge