A mechanistic study of hydrogen-bonding interactions between phenolic bio-oil constituents and VOCs: implications for emission mitigation in asphalt binders

H NMR spectroscopy, we characterize the hydrogen-bonding interactions between VOCs molecules and phenolic monomers. FT-IR and NMR analyses corroborate these predictions through red-shifted bands and reduced absorption intensities indicative of WPn…VOCs association. Our findings reveal that the formation of stable WPn…VOCs complexes significantly restricts VOCs mobility at the molecular scale. This molecular stabilization offers a promising strategy for designing next-generation asphalt binders with reduced environmental impact and enhanced potential for long-term durability.