Size-dependent enrichment of waste slag aggregate fragments abraded from asphalt concrete

Abstract

Authors consider the environmental prospects of using melted waste slag as the aggregate for asphalt pavement. In particular, the enrichment of slag-derived fragments in fine abrasion dust particles originated from slag asphalt concrete and its size dependency were concerned. A series of surface abrasion tests for asphalt concrete specimens, containing only natural aggregates as reference or 30 wt% of substituted slag aggregates, were performed. Although two of three slag-asphalt concretes generated 1.5–3.0 times larger amount of abrasion dust than the reference asphalt concrete did, it could not be explained only by abrasion resistance of slag. The enrichment of slag-derived fragments in abrasion dust, estimated on the basis of the peak intensity of quartz and heavy metal concentrations, had size dependency for all slag-asphalt concretes. Slag-derived fragments were enriched in abrasion dust particles with diameters of 150–1000 μm. Enrichment factors were 1.4–2.1. In contrast, there was no enrichment in abrasion dust particles with diameter less than 75 μm. This suggests that prior airborne-size fragmentation of substituted slag aggregates does not need to be considered for tested slag aggregates when environmental risks of abrasion dust of slag-asphalt pavement are assessed.

Department

Civil Engineering

Publication Date

10-30-2011

Journal Title

Journal of Hazardous Materials

Publisher

Elsevier

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1016/j.jhazmat.2011.07.086

Document Type

Article

Rights

Copyright © 2011 Elsevier B.V. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Share

COinS