POLLUTION: SOURCES AND SOLUTIONS IN BITUMINOUS CONSTRUCTION

THE PAPER BRIEFLY SUMMARIZES POSSIBLE SOURCES OF POLLUTION IN BITUMINOUS CONSTRUCTION AND DISCUSSES METHODS TO SOLVE SOME PROBLEMS. HOT-MIX OPERATIONS IN CENTRAL-PLANT MIXING IS DISCUSSED. AGGREGATE DUST, FLY ASH, SOOT AND UNBURNED DROPLETS OF FUEL ARE THE MAIN PARTICULATES RESULTING FROM ASPHALT PLANT OPERATIONS. FIVE TO TEN TONS OF DUST PER HOUR LEAVE THE DRYING CHAMBER OF AN AVERAGE SIZED DRYER WITHOUT A DUST COLLECTING SYSTEM. FLY ASH RESULTS FROM IMPURITIES IN FUEL OIL OR INCOMPLETE COMBUSTION. POOR COMBUSTION CAN RESULT IN UNBURNED OIL DROPLETS BEING EMITTED FROM THE STACK OR DEPOSITED ON THE DRYER. THE DUST-WATER MIXTURE (FROM WET WASHES USED TO CONTROL DUST) IS SOMETIMES DRAINED INTO RIVERS OR LAKES, AND THUS CAUSES A POLLUTION PROBLEM. NOISE AT AN ASPHALT PLANT CAN BE CAUSED BY MANY FACTORS BUT MAXIMUM LEVELS OCCUR AT OR NEAR THE HOT-BIN SCREENS, THE PUB MILL, THE EXHAUST FANS AND THE BURNERS. OFFENSIVE ODORS AND NOXIOUS GASES PRODUCED VARY WITH THE TYPE OF FUEL USED, THE BURNING TEMPERATURE AND THE EFFICIENCY OF THE COMBUSTION PROCESS. THE VARIOUS OPERATIONS CONSTTITUTING THE ROAD-MIX CONSTRUCTION PROCEDURE, REQUIRES DIESEL- OR GASOLINE-POWERED INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES WHICH ARE SOURCES OF POLLUTION. DUST IS CREATED DURING THE OPERATIONS AND NOXIOUS VOLATILES MAY ESCAPE INTO THE AIR. POLLUTION CONTROL METHODS MAY BE CATEGORIZED IN 3 CLASSES. AUXILARY EQUIPMENT USED IN MIXING AND HANDLING OPERATIONS ARE SUMMARIZED. THESE INCLUDE DUST CONTROL, WATER CONTROL, NOISE CONTROL, AND ODOR AND NOXIOUS GAS CONTROL SYSTEMS. EQUIPMENT MANUFACTURERS ARE MAKING IMPROVED PRODUCTS. A NEW MIXING CONCEPT THAT COMBINES THE AGGREGATE HEATING AND MIXING PROCESS IS A SINGLE OPERATION IN THE LOCATING DRUM, AND WHICH OFFERS PROMISE OF A RELATIVELY POLLUTION FREE PLANT IS DESCRIBED. SPECIAL MIXES THAT MAY BE DEVELOPED TO CONTROL POLLUTION ARE REVIEWED.

• Record URL:
  • http://onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepubs/sr/sr138/138-024.pdf
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/isbn/0309021529
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Distribution, posting, or copying of this PDF is strictly prohibited without written permission of the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences. Unless otherwise indicated, all materials in this PDF are copyrighted by the National Academy of Sciences. Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved
• Corporate Authors:

  Highway Research Board

  2101 Constitution Avenue, NW
  Washington, DC    20418
• Authors:
  • Epps, J A
  • Gallaway, B M
  • Terrel, R L
• Conference:
  • 5th Summer Meeting of the Highway Research Board
  • Location: Madison Wisconsin, United States
  • Date: 1972-7-31 to 1972-8-2
• Publication Date: 1973

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: Figures; References;
• Pagination: p. 142-149
• Monograph Title: ENVIRONMENTAL CONSIDERATIONS IN PLANNING, DESIGN, AND CONSTRUCTION
• Serial:
  • Highway Research Board Special Report
  • Issue Number: 138
  • Publisher: Highway Research Board

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Air pollution; Bituminous construction; Driers (Devices); Dust; Equipment; Fly ash; Fuel oils; Gases; Hot mix asphalt; Internal combustion engines; Mixing plants; Noise control; Particles; Water pollution
• Uncontrolled Terms: Soot
• Old TRIS Terms: Bituminous mixing plants
• Subject Areas: Construction; Highways;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00215640
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 0309021529
• Files: TRIS, TRB, ATRI
• Created Date: Apr 3 1974 12:00AM