Waste animal fats (WAF) can be converted into distillate fractions similar to petroleum
solvents and used as biofuels or in other applications through pyrolysis and fractional
distillation. The distillate fractions from the pyrolysis of triglycerides exhibit adequate
viscosity and volatility compared to petroleum-derived fuels but show acid values between
60-140 mg KOH/g, preventing their direct use as biofuels without considerable purification of
the distilled fractions. Diluted petroleum asphalt (DPA), used for priming soil in the
construction of flexible pavement, requires adequate viscosity, volatility, and penetration, and
the distillate fractions from WAF pyrolysis oil can be used as partial or full substitutes for the
standard solvent (kerosene) in DPA production. The aim of this study was to test the
compliance of DPAs prepared by substituting kerosene with bio-oil fractions from WAF
according to DPA standards. First, WAF is obtained from meat waste through the rendering
process. Then, WAF is subjected to pyrolysis in a semi-batch fixed-bed reactor (2L), and the
resulting bio-oil is fractionally distilled into gasoline, kerosene, and diesel fractions. The
pyrolysis process is analyzed concerning the type of reactor used, with a focus on the
influence of temperature and reaction time, as well as the distillation profile. The distilled
fractions are characterized by density, viscosity, and acid value before being used in the
preparation of DPAs by partial and/or total (0-40% by weight) substitution of standard
kerosene. The mixtures were tested for kinematic and Saybolt-Furol viscosity, flash point, and
penetration, according to road pavement standards. The results showed that the kerosene and
diesel fractions from WAF can be adequately used in the preparation of DPAs as a total
substitute for the petroleum kerosene typically used.
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