Trinidad oil sand sustainable use in asphalt concrete for light traffic roads

Abstract

Oil sands are bituminous sand deposits that are collected and processed to produce crude oil. While oil sands are primarily used in road construction for unbound pavement layers and temporary surfacing, they are also considered sustainable and environmentally friendly. Laboratory tests have examined the potential of using oil-contaminated sand as a sustainable alternative aggregate in asphalt concrete. The technique involved preparing asphalt mixtures with varying oil sands content (0%, 10%, 20%, 30%, 100%) and conducting volumetric, moisture susceptibility, and performance tests. These mixtures were then evaluated against international standards. The results showed that bituminous mixtures containing less than 15% oil sand were suitable for use in secondary road layers, roadbeds, road subbases, impermeable landfill and containment layers, as well as steep embankment stabilizers. The research recommended developing a proposal for an oil sand-based low-volume road mixture. Incorporating oil sand into asphalt concrete not only improves waste management but also reduces the environmental impact of road construction.