Comparative analysis of emissions from the manufacture and use of hot and half-warm mix asphalt

This paper presents the results of a research study whose main objective was to analyze the environmental benefits derived from a cleaner production technology for manufacturing asphalt mixes. This study measured polluting emissions during the construction of two consecutive stretches of highway on which a hot mix and a half-warm mix were spread. Combustion gases (CO, NOx, O-2, CO2), total organic carbon (TOC), particles, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), were measured during the manufacturing of hot and half-warm asphalt in plant and also during the spreading and compaction processes. The results obtained in this research project show that for the same manufacturing and spreading conditions, the half-warm mix asphalt (manufactured at less than 100 degrees C) is a cleaner production technology and can be considered more environmentally friendly since it considerably reduced polluting emissions. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.