Sustainable Adhesion Additive Improving Road Bitumen Properties with Rapeseed Oil Waste

This paper introduces a novel method for synthesizing a cationic adhesion additive for road bitumen. The method involves condensing higher carboxylic acids and triglycerides of non-edible rapeseed oil with diethanolamine. The details of this innovative synthesis, the properties of the additive, and its action mechanism are shown in the results of this investigation. The surfactants in the synthesized products were identified by IR spectroscopy. They have significant practical implications. Different methods were used to investigate bitumen adhesion of acidic rock materials without and with additives. The results of the wetting angle study on the surface of rock materials changed from 19.81° to 80.33°, indicating a significant and remarkable improvement in its surface hydrophobicity. Moreover, the unique feature of the additive does not require dilution in organic solvents before use, which makes it highly practical for direct use.