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Title |
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Environmental Impacts of reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP)
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Participants |
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- Huiming Yin
- Fangliang Chen
- Dan Hochstein
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Project Quad |
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Summary/Objectives |
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The primary research goal of the proposed project is to investigate the environmental impacts of unbound reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP) while it is freshly processed and after subjecting it to an accelerated weathering process. The secondary goal is to explore potential engineering solutions to meet federal and state environmental standards or guidelines. To this end, the research team will screen leachate from fresh RAP products using two toxicity testing assays (the Microtox® assay and a Japanese Medaka fish early life stage larval assay). The research team will also investigate the effects of RAP weathering on toxicity using the same assays. Weathering experiments will be conducted utilizing an environmental chamber installed at Columbia University. Within this chamber, the RAP materials will be subjected to an accelerated weathering process which will oxidize the PAHs and asphaltenes present in the RAP asphalt. In addition, the research team will explore affordable treatment methods and remedies for those RAP applications where adverse environmental impacts have been identified. For example, the research team will look into whether uncontaminated soils can absorb organic pollutants from RAP leachate. After applying these treatments, the research team will retest the pollutant levels and toxicity of leachate. Ultimately, the research team seeks to identify eco-friendly RAP applications that can meet federal and state environmental compliances |
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Approach |
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- Prepare RAP materials, collect rap samples, and characterize engineering properties of RAP
- Investigate levels of pollutants in leachate of un-Weathered RAP
- Investigate toxicity of RAP leachate
- Weathering of unbound RAP towards life cycle assessment
- Determine variations in chemical component and environmental impacts of weathered RAP
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Results |
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- A glow discharge high resolution profiler has been installed in the Carleton Lab in May 2014
- Installation of cooling and humidity control of the chamber is underway
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