Investigation of usability of activated carbon obtained from marc and vinasse as bitumen additives

Main purpose of thesis study is to research the effect of activated carbon obtained from agricultural wastes marc and vinasse as a modifier on the rheological properties of bitumen binders and mechanical properties of hot mix asphalt. For this purpose, activated carbon, using vinasse generated at distillation step in the alcohol production from molasses together with grape marc, was used. The activated carbon was added to neat bitumen (PG 58-16) in 3 different ratios (5%, 10% and 15% of neat binder). Limestone aggregate obtained from Karayazı region of Elazığ was used in hot mix asphalt samples. Penetration, softening point, rotational viscosity, dynamic shear rheometer (DSR) and bending beam rheometer (BBR) tests were applied on pure and modified bitumen. Hot mix asphalt samples were prepared with neat and modified binders. Marshall stability and flow, resistance to moisture-induced damage, indirect tensile stiffness modulus, dynamic creep and indirect tensile fatigue tests were applied to bituminous hot mix asphalt samples. It was determined from the binder tests results that the use of activated carbon in bitumen modification increased the consistency and high temperature performances of bituminous binders, and low temperature performance was not affected much. It was obtained from mixture tests that Marshall stability, stiffness, resistance to fatigue cracking and permanent deformation of the mixtures were increased with active carbon modified bitumen usage. Also, the use of activated carbon in bitumen modification adversely affects the resistance against moisture-induced damage.