Partial Replacement of Bitumen with Molasses

Abstract

Bituminous concrete is a composite material which consists of mineral aggregates, bitumen as a binder & air voids. 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 or totally replacement of bitumen binder. Such an alternative binder is Molasses. Molasses is a residue of sugar cane obtained during the process of manufacturing of sugar. This research is intended for partial replacement of bitumen binder with molasses. The study compares the results of conventional bitumen and bitumen containing molasses 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 molasses to find the optimum percentage. Percentage of bitumen (4%, 6% & 8%) and percentage of molasses by weight of bitumen (4%,8%,10%,12% & 16%). The research study concludes that the partial replacement of bitumen with molasses improves the Marshall characteristics, and also the strength and stability increases at 6% bitumen content and 8% molasses 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 8% which is feasible to partial replace bitumen with molasses.