Bitumenrelated

Bitumenrelated is a general descriptor used for topics connected to bitumen, a viscous hydrocarbon that occurs naturally or is produced as a residuum in petroleum refining. It covers chemistry, production, processing, applications, and environmental and safety aspects of bitumen.

Bitumen exists in natural deposits and as a refining byproduct. It ranges from stiff solids to semi-fluid masses. Petroleum bitumen contains asphaltenes, resins, and maltenes, and its properties change with temperature, oxidation, and the addition of modifiers.

Bitumen is produced from natural sources or recovered from oil sands. Upgrading methods such as coking, hydrocracking, and visbreaking convert it into synthetic crude or upgraded asphalt. It is widely used in road construction, roofing, and waterproofing.

In road construction, bitumen serves as a binder in asphalt concrete, often modified with polymers to improve performance under temperature variation and traffic. Other forms include roofing bitumen, bitumen emulsions, and sealants.

Environmental and economic considerations emphasize energy use, emissions, aging, and reuse. Reclaimed asphalt pavement reduces resource consumption, while regulatory and technological advances aim to increase sustainability and minimize health and environmental risks in bitumen-related industries.