An asphalt-based sealcoat composition comprising high levels of titanium oxide particles is provided. In some embodiments, a highly solar reflective asphalt-based sealcoat composition comprising high levels of titanium oxide particles is provided. In some embodiments, an asphalt-based sealcoat composition capable of reducing pollutants comprising high levels of titanium oxide particles is provided. In some embodiments, methods for preparing asphalt-based sealcoat compositions as well as their application to asphalt surfaces is provided.

The present invention relates to an asphalt product that comprises an asphalt component and a plurality of pellets comprising a mixture of a ground tire rubber and an elastomeric polymer, where the density difference between the asphalt component and the plurality of pellets is less than 10%. The present invention further relates to a pellet comprising a ground tire rubber (“GTR”) and an elastomeric polymer mixed with the GTR, where the GTR has a density of less than 1.12 g/cm.sup.3. Also disclosed are methods of producing improved asphalt and paving a surface.

An improved method forms and employs a wax to modify asphalt. The method includes: (a) selecting a solid polymeric material, (b) heating the solid polymeric material in an extruder to produce a molten polymeric material, (c) filtering the molten polymeric material, (d) placing the molten polymeric material through a chemical depolymerization process in a reactor to produce a depolymerized polymeric material, and (e) adding the depolymerized material to a pre-wax mixture to produce a polymer-modified asphalt. The addition of wax reduced the mixing time necessary to achieve improved polymer dispersion compared to the control formulation modified bitumen and reduced the viscosity of the neat bitumen. Pre-polymer addition of wax is detrimental to most properties of the resulting modified asphalt. Post-polymer addition improved viscosity reduction, higher softening point and improved dimensional stability.

Asphalt formulations containing ground tire rubber and/or plastics can be modified by polymers, oligomers, and waxes made from polymeric material. The addition of polymer, oligomer, or wax can improve stability of ground tire rubber and/or plastic in the asphalt leading to lower formulation costs for polymer modified asphalt producers. In addition, these stable formulations can reduce risk of rutting, and cracking in asphalt roads. The polymer, oligomer, or wax can be made by catalytic depolymerization and/or thermal degradation of polymeric material. The polymeric material can be polystyrene, polypropylene, polyethylene, a combination of polypropylene and polyethylene or recycled plastics.

Preparing a microbially desulfurized crumb rubber includes combining microorganisms capable of breaking crosslinked sulfur bonds, sulfur-containing crumb rubber, and a salt solution to yield a mixture; combining a buffer with the mixture to yield a buffered mixture, thereby adjusting a pH of the mixture; providing oxygen to the buffered mixture; incubating the buffered mixture for a length of time to yield a microbially desulfurized mixture; combining the microbially desulfurized mixture with bitumen to yield a precursor; and heating the precursor to yield the microbially desulfurized crumb rubber. The microbially desulfurized crumb rubber can be combined with bitumen to yield a modified bitumen. The modified bitumen can be combined with asphalt to yield a modified asphalt.

Aspects of the present invention provide methods of drying lecithin in a batch reaction, comprising the steps of obtaining lecithin-containing material (derived from a crude refining stream) comprising 15-50% water, 10-30% acetone insoluble matter, and 10-20% free fatty acid; adding a fatty acid source (also derived from a crude refining stream) to the lecithin-containing material composition to obtain a lecithin/fatty acid reaction mixture; and blowing dry gas through the gum/fatty acid reaction mixture to obtain a resultant dried lecithin fatty acid blend having a water content of less than 2%. The resultant dried lecithin fatty acid blend may be used in asphalt or oil field applications.

Provided herein is an asphalt binder composition, and more particularly, an amine-containing asphalt binder composition capable of improving mixability between an asphalt binder and an aggregate, and compactibility and water resistance of an asphalt paving mixture. More particularly, the present invention relates to an asphalt binder composition capable of being used in hot mix asphalt for improving workability and/or stripping-resistance, warm-mix asphalt, recycling of reclaimed asphalt pavement, or the like.

A system for recycling asphalt millings and methods thereof are provided. In exemplary embodiments, an apparatus for recycling asphalt millings may comprise a blender comprising a basin having an interior volume, an agitator disposed within the interior volume, the agitator adapted to agitate asphalt millings, a blender grate disposed on the bottom of the basin, the blender grate comprising apertures adapted to allow bitumen to pass through the blender grate, a heating conveyor comprising a heating apparatus for heating the asphalt millings, a cooling conveyor comprising an input for receiving asphalt millings and an opening adapted to receive a cold material applicator, a cold material applicator disposed in the opening, the cold material applicator adapted to apply cold material to asphalt millings.

Hot-applied asphaltic and non-asphaltic sealant compositions and methods having or using defined effective polymer concentration (EPC) values of at least 7.0 are provided which (a) provide improved softening points and improved resilience without the use of any inorganic filler materials, while at the same time maintaining or increasing the ductilities of the compositions, or (b) enable the use of one or more inorganic filler materials to provide improved softening points and improved resilience while maintaining desirable viscosity levels and at least significantly limiting any losses in ductility or increasing the ductilities of the compositions.

The present invention provides a functionally dry warm mix asphalt binder composition modified with lubricating agents or additives that can be mixed with aggregate and compacted at temperatures substantially below asphalt binder compositions that do not contain the disclosed lubricating additives.