Evaluation of Organosolv Lignin as an Oxidation Inhibitor in Bitumen

Organosolv lignin, a natural polymer, has been used in this study as an oxidation inhibitor in bitumen. Particularly, the effect of oxidative aging on the chemical compositional changes and on the rheology of bituminous binders with organosolv lignin and the impact to inhibit oxidation in bitumen were evaluated. Firstly, after analyzing the microstructure and surface characteristics of utilized organosolv lignin, a high shear mixing procedure was followed to produce binders of different proportions of lignin in bitumen. Pressure aging vessel conditioning was applied to these binders to simulate in-field aging and a series of tests were performed. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy was used to track the compositional changes of lignin–bitumen systems before and after aging respectively. The rheological changes due to oxidative aging in the different lignin–bitumen systems were studied by means of dynamic shear rheometer tests. Based on the spectroscopic laboratory analyses, certain proportions of organosolv lignin in bitumen have shown a potential oxidation retardation effect in bitumen since a reduction of carbonyl and sulfoxide compounds was observed. However, the addition of lignin reduced the fatigue life of bitumen and potentially led to an increase in brittle fracture sensitivity at low and medium temperatures. Nevertheless, lignin improved the rutting resistance at high temperatures. Overall, it can be concluded that organosolv lignin can suppress the oxidation of sulfur and carbon compounds in bitumen either by direct deceleration of oxidation reaction or interaction with compounds that otherwise are oxidizable, without seriously degrading the mechanical properties.

Performance Analysis of Diesel Engine using Copper Oxide Nano Additive

This experimental study focuses on investigation of performance and utterance attributes of a normal diesel engine with biodiesel prepared from pongamia. This study aims to reduce the emission of nitrogen oxide by adding an oxidation inhibitor Tert-Butylhydroquinone (TBHQ). The analysis for each sample is to be carried out in compression ignition engine (standard diesel engine). The engine is tested with standard diesel, pongamia methyl ester biodiesel without any additives. Then the analysis is to be carried by adding nano additive copper oxide for about 50 ppm in the above mentioned fuels. From this the best combination is found out and test is again carried out by adding the oxidation inhibitor.