Development of a simple RAP extraction and recovery method for smaller material quantities

Abstract

As road networks expand globally and existing pavements are upgraded, the need for recycling in asphalt pavements continues to grow. However, the quality of RAP materials varies significantly, necessitating reliable assessment methods to determine their suitability for new pavements and ensure optimal performance. Rapid and efficient RAP quality assessment is especially critical in regions managing multiple RAP stockpiles, where informed decisions rely on accurate material evaluation. This study presents a novel microextraction procedure combined with a vacuum oven recovery method to extract small binder quantities for characterization. The vacuum oven recovery method was developed and refined through simulation trials using binder pellets, while various microextraction filtration techniques were evaluated with loose asphalt mixtures. The proposed procedure was validated through rheological characterization of binders and benchmarked against conventional extraction and recovery methods, demonstrating its efficacy and potential for widespread application.