Suppression Characteristics of Tourmaline Powder and Organic Montmorillonite on Bitumen Fume Production and Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons

ABSTRACT To reduce the harmful emissions generated during the use of bitumen binder. Tourmaline powder and organic montmorillonite (TP/OMMT) were used to prepare an environmentally friendly bitumen binder. First, the effect of TP/OMMT on the bitumen binder performance and storage stability was evaluated. Then, a self-designed device was used to analyze the fume production characteristics of TP/OMMT bitumen binder under various conditions. Finally, the extent of reduction and suppressing on 16 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in bitumen fume by TP/OMMT was analyzed using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The results showed that TP/OMMT could form a uniformly dispersed state in bitumen binder and improved the high-temperature deformation resistance, as well as the low-temperature cracking resistance of bitumen binder. Bitumen fume production is greatly influenced by heating temperature, heating time, and exposure area. Compared with unmodified bitumen binder, the fume production of TP/OMMT modified bitumen binder was significantly reduced, where the fume production was reduced by 69.2 %. In addition, TP/OMMT significantly reduced 16 PAHs in bitumen fumes and the potentially carcinogenic high relative molecular mass was reduced by 45.2 %. The results provide implications for inhibiting the volatilization of hazardous substances in bitumen binder.