This invention encompasses rubber modified asphalt cement compositions, as well as systems, apparatuses, methods for preparing, as well as methods for using rubber-modified asphalt cement compositions.

The present application discloses compositions and methods for improving or enhancing the paving or re-paving of asphalt to road surfaces comprising the addition of the composition to the asphalt.

Aspects of the present invention provide methods of drying lecithin in a batch reaction, comprising the steps of obtaining a 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.

A method of processing a mineral solid mixture, in particular road construction material, containing impurities with aromatic and/or aliphatic hydrocarbons, wherein the solid mixture is heated to a temperature below 570° C., wherein the solid mixture is heated in at least one heated rotating drum-like apparatus and is passed through at least one container and that the solid mixture is heated during or after the heating process, drum-like apparatus and is passed through at least one container, and in that the solid mixture is subjected to a negative pressure during heating or after heating, and in that the hydrocarbons are extracted from the heated solid mixture by the negative pressure and are rendered harmless by thermal combustion.

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.

The present invention relates to a binder composition comprising a bituminous binder and at least one rejuvenating agent. The present invention further relates to a method for evaluating the efficiency of a rejuvenating agent in a binder composition.

A hybrid crude oil and methods of making the same using man-made or natural petroleum-based waste stream products. The hybrid crude oil is composed of an oil-based solution and petroleum-based coatings that were extracted from a petroleum-containing material. This hybrid crude oil is created by elevating the temperature of the oil-based solution to or above an elevated temperature, i.e., the melting or phase-change temperature of the petroleum-based coating so that it can become liquified and dissolve into the oil-based solution and create the hybrid crude oil. The petroleum-containing material is submerged into the heated oil-based solution to cause the petroleum-based coatings to dissolve into the heated oil-based solution at the elevated temperature. The liquid oil-based solution at the elevated temperature creates an environmental seal to the petroleum-based coatings to protect them from burning, carburizing, or degrading, until the liquid oil-based solution is capable of providing the necessary thermal energy for the phase change of the petroleum-based coating from a solid state to a liquid state. At which time, the petroleum-based coatings safely phase-changes into a liquid and dissolves into the oil-based solution, creating the hybrid crude oil.

Pavement aging can be reduced by applying to an asphalt-containing pavement a topcoat layer or a surface treatment containing asphalt binder with sterols.

The invention concerns a method for the preparation of a bituminous composition BC comprising the following steps: a) having an intermediary hydrocarbonated composition IC comprising: a hydrocarbonated component selected among bitumen and oils, and a hydroxide XOH with X=Na or K, which represents from 15 to 50% by weight of the total weight of the intermediary hydrocarbonated composition IC, b) introducing the intermediary hydrocarbonated composition IC, into a composition HC of a bitumen, in particular chosen among paving grade bitumen as defined by EN 12591 and polymer modified bitumen as defined by EN 14023.

The intermediary hydrocarbonated composition IC as defined in the invention and its uses are other aspects of the invention.

An object of the instant application is to provide a process of recycling a bituminous product such as a waste bituminous membrane product optionally containing reinforcement layers comprising grinding and melting steps.