Research Projects

The proposal explores the use of rice husk-derived bio-oil as a sustainable and cost-effective modified asphalt binder in road construction. The rising cost of asphalt binder is a significant portion of the cost of constructing flexible pavements, and as crude oil reserves deplete, it is crucial to find eco-friendly alternatives. Rice husks, readily available in India, can be turned into bio-oil, making them an excellent source for developing sustainable road construction materials. The proposal reviews the current state of research on the utilization of bio-oil in asphalt binders, focusing on rice husk-derived bio-oil modified asphalt binder. The study aims to fill a research gap in the area, specifically rice husk-derived bio-oil modified asphalt binder, which has not been widely explored in the scientific literature. The research will involve five objectives: developing a sustainable bio-oil modified asphalt binder using rice husk, evaluating optimal bio-oil dosage, investigating chemical interactions, aging the asphalt binder, and evaluating performance parameters. The experimental setup involves two stages: producing bio-oil through pyrolysis of rice husk and evaluating the performance of the bio-oil modified asphalt binders. The proposal aligns with the UN's sustainable development goals and has the potential to contribute to India's "Aatam Nirbhar Bharat" project, which aims to build a self-reliant India. The proposal requests financial support from sERB-DsT to develop a cost-effective rice husk-derived bio-oil modified asphalt binder as a sustainable road construction material using agriculture residue.