Ozonation of Bitumen: Characteristics, Characterization, and Applications

Bitumen is a significant component used in road construction. Traditionally, it is subjected to air-blowing processes at high temperatures (220–260 °C) to enhance its viscosity, rigidity, and oxidation characteristics. However, such approaches are often energy-consuming and result in extensive environmental issues, so more efficient and environmentally friendly techniques are needed. This review evaluates the emerging novel pathways for treating bitumen, with a particular focus on the role of ozone in the air-blowing process. By examining present studies, this review emphasizes the incorporation of ozone as an oxidizing agent to address the current challenges of long process times and high temperatures in the activation process and comprehensively demonstrates the enhancement of bitumen’s mechanical properties through ozone treatment. It also highlights the minimization of toxic emissions this achieves, especially highlighting the crucial role of ozone in improving the characteristics of bitumen in relation to the global trend toward making civil construction projects more environmentally friendly. The main aim of this review is to contribute to the development of new ideas in the field of bitumen modification and to encourage further advances in road construction from the standpoint of improving efficiency and minimizing environmental impacts.