This paper introduces a new bio-rejuvenator made from a blend of high-protein algae and high-lipid animal manure and studies its interaction with aged bitumen molecules to revitalize aged asphalt. True revitalization requires restoring not only the chemical balance but also the molecular conformation. Therefore, rejuvenators should be able to de-agglomerate oxidized asphaltenes while compensating for components that are lost during aging. This study uses a balanced feedstock to control the composition and concentration of active molecules in a rejuvenator to increase its efficiency. To do so, a balanced combination of high-protein algae and high-lipid manure were used to synthesize bio-rejuvenator having different concentration of straight chain hydrocarbons and aromatic compounds, with the former helping to restore chemical balance, and the latter working to de-agglomerate oxidized asphaltene. This in turn can restore aged bitumen's molecular conformation, leading to restoration of its physicochemical and rheological properties. The study results showed that bio-rejuvenator produced from the algae-manure balanced feedstock was more effective rejuvenator than using either of algae or manure solely. The superiority of rejuvenator made by co-liquefaction of a balanced feedstock verified by comparing its dosage efficiency with that of its counterparts made from isolated bio-mass sources. The comparison was done based on the extent of increase in crossover modulus and crossover frequency of an aged bitumen doped with a constant dosage of each rejuvenator with co-liquified scenario showing a much higher increase than other scenarios. Molecular dynamics simulation results revealed that latter bio-rejuvenator’s molecules have a peptizing effect on oxidized asphaltene molecules leading to a significant decrease in the radial distribution function of oxidized asphaltene molecules restoring their molecular conformation. This in turn leads to revitalizing aged asphalt physio-chemical properties to enable reuse and recycling of aged asphalt composites and improve recycling of asphalt pavements to promote sustainability.

本文介绍了一种由高蛋白藻类和高脂动物粪便混合而成的新型生物修复剂，并研究了其与老化的沥青分子的相互作用以活化老化的沥青。真正的振兴不仅需要恢复化学平衡，还需要恢复分子构象。因此，再生剂应该能够对氧化的沥青质进行解聚，同时补偿在老化过程中损失的成分。这项研究使用平衡的原料来控制再生剂中活性分子的组成和浓度，以提高其效率。为此，高蛋白藻类和高脂肥料的平衡组合被用于合成具有不同浓度直链烃和芳香族化合物的生物嫩肤剂，前者有助于恢复化学平衡，后者的作用是使氧化的沥青烯解聚。反过来，这可以恢复老化沥青的分子构象，从而恢复其理化和流变特性。研究结果表明，与单独使用藻类或粪肥相比，由藻类－粪便平衡的原料生产的生物再生剂更有效。通过平衡液化共原料制得的再生剂的优越性，通过将其剂量效率与由分离的生物质来源制得的再生剂进行比较，证明了其优越性。比较的依据是掺入一定剂量的每个再生剂的老化沥青的交换模量和交换频率的增加程度，共液化方案的增幅远高于其他方案。分子动力学模拟结果表明，后一种生物嫩化剂分子对氧化的沥青质分子具有胶溶作用，导致氧化的沥青质分子的径向分布函数显着降低，从而恢复了其分子构象。反过来，这可以使老化的沥青的理化特性恢复活力，从而使老化的沥青复合材料能够重复使用和回收，并改善沥青路面的回收利用，以促进可持续性。