A Comparative Assessment of Chemical Properties, Toxicity and Mechanical Performance of Industrial Waste Materials as Fine Aggregate for Eco-friendly Paving Application

Abstract The rapid growth of industrial processes has led to a significant increase in the generation of various types of solid waste. This has created an opportunity to explore the potential utilization of such waste materials in pavement applications, addressing environmental concerns and offering potential cost savings in construction. This study explores the feasibility of using industrial waste materials: bottom ash from power plants and waste garnet from abrasive blasting as fine aggregates in asphalt mixtures under aging conditions. Two asphalt mixtures incorporating these waste materials were designed and evaluated against a conventional control mixture. The research analyzed mechanical, chemical, and leaching properties. Findings indicate that asphalt mixtures with waste garnet generally outperformed those with bottom ash in terms of bitumen content, stability, chemical properties, toxicity, rutting resistance, and indirect tensile strength. However, bottom ash mixtures showed better performance in cantabro loss, resilient modulus, and moisture sensitivity. Both waste materials met performance requirements, with waste garnet proving particularly promising as an eco-friendly paving material.