LIQUID CHROMATOGRAPHIC SEPARATIONS AS A BASIS FOR IMPROVING ASPHALT COMPOSITION-PHYSICAL PROPERTY CORRELATIONS

It is widely known that asphalts yielding similar results in standard tests like penetration may in fact exhibit significantly different performance with respect to product manufacturing, application, or durability. Thus, a need exists for more definitive testing, especially with respect to defining the chemical composition of asphalt. Direct spectroscopic analysis of asphalt is difficult because of its compositional complexity, high degree of association between compounds present, and high, overall average molecular weight/boiling range. Hence, prior liquid chromatographic separation into compound classes or types can greatly enhance the level of information obtainable from spectroscopic methods, as well as provide information on types and quantities of compounds present. The scheme discussed involves initial separation into acid, base, and neutral types using development of routine test methods to significantly higher levels of sophistication than those currently available.