Paving Toward the Future
An Australian invention could see recycled waste producing an environmentally friendly form of bitumen which would have wide-ranging benefits for our environment, health and local industry. Ecopave Australia has invented a bitumen substitute called GEO320 which is made from plant waste and recycled materials instead of crude oil.
Melbourne (PRWEB) November 8, 2005
An Australian invention could see recycled waste producing an environmentally friendly form of bitumen which would have wide-ranging benefits for our environment, health and local industry.
Ecopave Australia has invented a bitumen substitute called GEO320 which is made from plant waste and recycled materials instead of crude oil.
GEO320 inventor Eerik Owerhall said he came from a family of asphalt-layers, and had seen his grandfather and great-grandfather die as a direct result of ingesting poisonous fumes from bitumen.
Both ancestors were non-smokers, but contracted lung disease at an early age, prompting Mr Owerhall’s search to find a harmless form of bitumen that could also benefit society.
Mr Owerhall said GEO320 was economical to make and cost the same amount as “normal” petroleum-based bitumen.
“We can manufacture GEO320 from molasses (sugar waste) and all sorts of tree resins and waste materials like coconut and palm oil waste and the VTB Bottoms derived in the process of cleaning used motor oils,” Mr Owerhall said.
“And we’ve designed it to incorporate recycled plastics, to help the recycling industries in Australia and around the world.”
Petrochemical (oil-based) bitumen has caused concern in scientific and environmental groups because the United States Geological Survey suggested world crude oil supplies would diminish out of existence by 2100.
In contrast, GEO320 is manufactured from renewable resources, earning the approval of Australia’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which commends projects that are “ecologically sustainable”.
Mr Owerhall said GEO320 also benefited the natural and built environment because it did not contribute to the ‘urban heat island effect’, which is caused by bitumen absorbing heat from the sun.
“Roads are black, and that’s not a good thing for the heat island effect but because GEO320 isn’t black, but light brown, it’s not absorbing so much infra-red or heat,” Mr Owerhall said.
The United States EPA estimated the heat island effect from roads and pavements could raise the temperature of urban areas by up to 6˚C, adding to smog and ozone which affects plant growth and people’s breathing.
With more than 34,000km of roads owned by the Queensland Department of Main Roads alone, black bitumen could be significantly raising the temperature of the state.
As well as absorbing heat, petrochemical bitumen needs to be manufactured, stored and laid at high temperatures, creating a greenhouse effect and damaging the health of road workers.
The extreme heat can burn the bitumen-layers, and the high temperature causes the bitumen to release poisonous fumes.
Research by the European Bitumen Association showed workers who were consistently exposed to bitumen fumes exhibited serious respiratory problems which could contribute to lung cancer.
But GEO320 is made in granulated form, can be stored at ambient temperatures, and laid at much lower temperatures than petrochemical bitumens.
“GEO320 has fumes but they’re not bad for you,” Mr Owerhall said. “It emits water vapour, which isn’t bad for you, and it’s close to zero per cent volatile content so it’s very safe.”
The GEO320 proto-type was tested by ARRB Transport Research to compare its performance properties with normal road bitumen, and the results showed GEO320 was equally, durable, and resistant to fatigue.
The Queensland Department of State Development recently expressed interest in the product, not only for its environmental benefits but also because it could support local industry.
Queensland produces 95 per cent of Australia’s sugar cane, so Canegrowers Queensland was interested in GEO320 because it can be manufactured from molasses.
Canegrowers Queensland senior policy manager Bernard Milford said the new form of bitumen had the potential to generate another source of income for the struggling sugar industry.
“Molasses is normally quite a low-value by-product of manufacturing sugar, and to have some extra demand for it like this is very encouraging,” Mr Milford said.
“It’s very encouraging to know that the waste material that’s being produced from a sugar mill could be used in such an environmentally friendly and interesting product.”
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