1 productive re-use of municipal plastic waste to … re-use... · 2015-03-23 · productive re-use...

International Journal of Civil Engineering and Technology (IJCIET), ISSN 0976 – 6308 (Print),

ISSN 0976 – 6316(Online), Volume 6, Issue 3, March (2015), pp. 01-09 © IAEME

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PRODUCTIVE RE-USE OF MUNICIPAL PLASTIC WASTE

TO IMPROVE TEMPERATURE RESISTANCE AND

REDUCE RAIN WATER INFILTRATION IN FLEXIBLE

PAVEMENTS

Srinivasa Raju Penmetsa1, Ashwin Kesiraju

2, AddepalliDinesh Varma

3

1,2,3

Department of Civil Engineering, Gitam University, Visakhapatnam, India

ABSTRACT

Plastic waste is one such resource which is abundantly available and disposed of without

proper treatment. There has been an exponential growth in municipal plastic waste disposal

especially in urban areas which deteriorates the beauty of the landscape. Plastic instead of disposing

directly can be made used in an effective and ingenious way by which disposal problems are

succumbed and environmental pollution can be ameliorated. Scholars came up with a novel and an

effective method of re-using plastic in road construction. Plastic was found to be an effective binder

for bitumen mixes used in flexible pavements. This efficient method helps the pavements to resist

higher temperature by minimizing the formation of cracks and reducing rainwater infiltration which

otherwise leads to development of potholes. These pavements have shown improved crushing and

abrasion values and reduced water seepage.

Keywords: Environmental Pollution, Municipal Plastic, Rainwater Infiltration, Temperature

Cracking.

I. INTRODUCTION

India has a road network of over 4,689,842 kilometers (2,914,133 mi) in 2013, the second

largest road network in the world. Adjusted for its large population, India has less than 3.8

kilometers of roads per 1000 people, including all its paved and unpaved roads. In terms of quality,

all season, 4 or more lane highways, India has less than 0.07 kilometers of highways per 1000

people, as of 2010. Taking these shortcomings into account, diverse road network is essential to

provide a forward thrust to infrastructure development. Instead of following traditional methods,

novel and innovative methods needs to implemented to improve lifespan and performance of

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CIVIL ENGINEERING AND

TECHNOLOGY (IJCIET)

ISSN 0976 – 6308 (Print)

ISSN 0976 – 6316(Online)

Volume 6, Issue 3, March (2015), pp. 01-09

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pavements. Plastic products are an integral part in our daily life as a basic need. One such method is

using of municipal plastic waste as binder in flexible pavements. Municipal waste, commonly known

as trash or garbage, is a combination of all of a city's solid and semisolid waste. It includes mainly

household or domestic waste, but it can also contain commercial and industrial waste.

If there is one type of municipal solid waste that has become ubiquitous in India and most

developing countries, and largely seen along the shores and waterways of many developed countries,

it is plastic waste. Much of it is not recycled, and ends up in landfills or as litter on land, in

waterways and the ocean. For the first time, researchers have estimated the amount of plastic that

makes its way into the oceans. While the estimate of eight million tonnes of plastic being dumped

into the oceans by 192 coastal countries in 2010 may appear staggeringly high, in reality the quantity

would be many times more. Municipal plastic waste comprises of 65-75 percent of the total plastic

waste generated in India. Besides estimating the total quantity, a paper published recently in the

journal Science has identified the top 20 countries that have dumped the most plastic waste into the

oceans. At twelfth position, India is one of the worst performers. It has dumped up to 0.24 million

tons of plastic into the ocean every year; the amount of mismanaged plastic waste per year is 0.6

million tons. In the case of China, the No. 1 polluter, the coastal population sends up to 3.53 million

tons of plastic waste into the oceans each year. Besides the 11 Asian and South East Asian countries,

the U.S. figures in the list. Availability of this waste in abundance and disposal without treatment

causes large scale environmental pollution. Landfill areas are constantly piled high with many

different types of plastics.

In these landfills, there are many micro-organisms which speed up the biodegradation of

plastics. Regarding biodegradable plastic as they are broken down, methane is released, which is a

very powerful greenhouse gas that contributes significantly to global is warming. Plastics contain

many different types of chemicals, depending on the type of plastic. The addition of chemicals is the

main reason why these plastics have become so multipurpose; however this has problems associated

with it. Some of the chemicals used in plastic production have the potential to be absorbed by human

beings through skin absorption. Incineration of plastic waste is a costly affair and land filling

degrades the soil and causes pollution of ground water due to rain water infiltration. The plastic waste

can be effectively used as a binder in flexible pavements. They may be used to improve resistance,

improve fatigue resistance to deformation as well as improved durability of open graded mixes.

Plastic coated may have same or even higher stiffness than conventional bitumen, but without a large

increase in flexibility. These modified mixes reduce the permanent deformation or rutting of the

bituminous surface course under traffic loads. These offer better resistance to deformation under at

higher temperatures. The behavior of plastic coated bitumen to various tests is the prime focus of this

article.

The process involved in laying plastic roads begins with collection of plastic waste (bags,

cups, thermocole) made out of PE, PP, & PS which are separated, cleaned if needed and shredded to

small pieces (passing through 4.35mm sieve) The aggregate (granite) is heated to 170°C in the Mini

hot Mix Plant and the shredded plastic waste is added, it gets softened and coated over the aggregate.

Immediately the hot Bitumen (160°C) is added and mixed well. As the polymer and the bitumen are

is the molten state (liquid state) they get mixed and the blend is formed at surface of the aggregate.

The mixture is transferred to the road and the road is laid. This technique is extended to Central

Mixing Plant too.

The durability of the roads laid out with shredded plastic waste is much more compared with

roads with asphalt with the ordinary mix. Roads laid with plastic waste mix are found to be better

than the conventional ones. The binding property of plastic makes the road last longer besides giving

added strength to withstand more loads. While a normal 'highway quality' road lasts four to five

years it is claimed that plastic-bitumen roads can last up to 10 years. Rainwater will not seep through

because of the plastic in the tar. So, this technology will result in lesser road repairs. And as each km

International Journal of Civil Engineering

ISSN 0976 – 6316(Online), Volume

of road with an average width requires

non-biodegradable waste. The cost

the conventional method. However,

benefits are much higher than the

humid climate, where temperatures

most of the roads with big potholes.

using this technology. The government

mixing waste plastic and bitumen

strong, durable and eco-friendly roads

II. METHODOLOGY

The following tests are done of thr

• Aggregate Crushing Value Test

• Aggregate Imapct Value Test

• Water Absorption Test

• Marshall Stability Test

The Aggregates are coated

normal mix bitumen and the other

using 4 percent, 4.5 percent and 5

4.5 percent bitumen is taken mixed

and are added to heated aggregates.

and values are compared between

III. ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSIONS

Aggregate Crushing value Test

4.5% is taken and compared with

taking the same Bitumen i.e 4.5%

Engineering and Technology (IJCIET), ISSN

Volume 6, Issue 3, March (2015), pp. 01-09 © IAEME

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requires over two tons of polyblend, using plastic

cost of plastic road construction may be slightly

However, this should not deter the adoption of

the cost. Plastic roads would be a boon for India’s

temperatures frequently cross 50°C and torrential rains

potholes. Already, a kilometer long test-track has been

government is keen on encouraging the setting

bitumen for road construction. It is hoped that in near

roads which will relieve the earth from all type

thr Aggregates:

Aggregate Crushing Value Test

Imapct Value Test

coated with in two different ways. One set of aggregates

other with plastic coated bitumen. Normal mix specimens

5 percent bitumen content. When it comes to plastic

mixed with 1 percent, 3 percent, 5 percent and 7

aggregates. On these specimens the tests mentioned

between normal mix and plastic mix specimens.

AND DISCUSSIONS

Test aggregates coated with a normal mix with

ith Plastic Coated Bitumen mix coated with

4.5% bitumen). The Values can be seen in Graph

Graph 1

ISSN 0976 – 6308 (Print),

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plastic will help reduce

slightly higher compared to

the technology as the

India’s hot and extremely

rains create havoc, leaving

been tested in Karnataka

up of small plants for

near future we will have

type of plastic-waste.

aggregates are coated with

specimens are prepared

plastic coated bitumen,

percent plastic content

mentioned above are performed

with a bitumen content of

with 5% Plastic Content (

1.



Aggregate Impact Value similarly

with a bitumen content of 4.5% is

5% Plastic Content( but taking the

seen from the graph.

Water Absorption Test gives an

more porous in nature and are generally

run. The Graph 3 below shows the

Plastic Coated and Normal mix bitumen.

Marshall Stability Test on Normal

Marshall Stability is conducted

4 percent, 4.5 percent and 5 percent.

values are shown in the graphs below.



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ilarly to that of Crushing Value, aggregates coated

is taken and compared with Plastic Coated Bitumen

the same Bitumen i.e. 4% bitumen). The comparison

Graph 2

an idea of strength of rock. Stones having more

generally unsuitable and lead to the formation

the difference in water absorption capacities o

bitumen.

Graph 3

Normal Mix Specimens

conducted on three different samples coated with

percent. The behavior of these samples proved to

below. Graph 4.1 to Graph 4.6 provides the information

ISSN 0976 – 6308 (Print),

IAEME

coated with a normal mix

Bitumen mix coated with

comparison made can be

more water absorption are

of potholes in the long

of aggregates which are

with a bitumen contents of

to be different and these

information





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Graph 4.1

Graph 4.2

Graph 4.3

ISSN 0976 – 6308 (Print),

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Marshall Stability Test on Plastic

Marshall Stability is conducted

mixing it with 4.5 percent bitumen

these values can be seen from the



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Graph 4.4

Graph 4.5

Graph 4.6

Plastic Modified Mix Specimens

conducted using 1 percent, 3 percent, 5 percent, 7

bitumen and coated over heated aggregate. The graphs

plots below. Graph 5.1 to Graph 5.6

ISSN 0976 – 6308 (Print),

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percent plastic content

graphs are plotted and





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Graph 5.1

Graph 5.2

Graph 5.3

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IV. CONCLUSIONS

The conclusions which can be drawn

• The Aggregate crushing Value of

aggregate coated with normal bitumen mix. Both these values are within IRC limits (i.e. less



8

Graph 5.4

Graph 5.5

Graph 5.6

drawn from the discussions are:

The Aggregate crushing Value of plastic coated bitumen is 41.86 percent lower than


ISSN 0976 – 6308 (Print),

IAEME

plastic coated bitumen is 41.86 percent lower than




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than 30). This implies that plastic coated aggregates will be subjected to less crushing due to

moving vehicle loads. The influence of temperature will be minimum reducing the formation

of cracks.

• The Aggregate Impact Value of plastic coated bitumen is 28.44 percent lower than aggregate

coated with normal bitumen mix. These values are well within IRC limits (i.e. less than 30).

This infers that plastic coated bitumen can resist greater impact and pavements coated with

plastic have a longer lifetime.

• The Water Absorption Capacity of plastic coated bitumen is 91 percent lower than aggregate

coated with normal bitumen mix. The values are within the IRC limits (i.e. less than 2). The

value of absorption can be taken as negligible. The above results state that water absorption is

very less in plastic coated bitumen, thus reducing infiltration eliminating the possibility of

formation of potholes.

• The ideal plastic content which needs to be added is 5% weight of bitumen.

• The Marshall Stability value of plastic coated bitumen is 1.5 times greater than the one which

is coated normal bitumen mix. This indicates the strength which plastic content imparts to the

aggregate thus improving load carrying capacity with minimal deflection.

Thus the analysis and results presented above shows that plastic obtained from

municipal plastic waste, proved to be a better binder for pavements than normal bitumen. The

properties displayed by plastic coated bitumen are beneficial without incurring much cost

leading for effective, economic and efficient laying of roads. In this way plastic waste can be

re-used reducing environmental pollution.

REFERENCES

Journal Papers

1. Bhageerathy K.P, Anu P.Alex, Manju V.S, Raji A.K ,Use of Biomedical Plastic Waste in Bituminous

Road Construction, International Journal of Engineering and Advanced Technology, Volume 3, Issue

6, August 2014.

2. Miss Apurva J Chavan, Use of Plastic Waste in Flexible Pavements International Journal of

Application or Innovation in Engineering & Management Volume 2, Issue 4, April 2013.

3. Vatsal Patel, Snehal Popli, Drashti Bhatt, Utilization of Plastic Waste in Construction of Roads,

International Journal of Scientific Research, Volume 3, Issue 4, April 2014.

4. Sangita, Gupta Reena, Kaur Verinder, A Novel Approach to Improve Road Quality by Utilizing

Plastic Waste in Road Construction, Journal of Environmental Research and Development Volume 5,

Issue 4, April 2011.

5. S.S Verma, Roads from Plastic Waste, The Indian Concrete Journal, November 2008.

6. Rishi Singh Chhabra, Supriya Marik, A Review of Literature on the Use of Plastics and Waste Rubber

Tyres in Pavements, International Journal of Core Engineering and Management, Volume 1, Issue 1,

April 2014

7. Mercy Joseph Poweth, Solly George, Jessy Paul, Study on Use of Plastic Waste in Road Construction,

International Journal of Innovative Research in Science, Engineering and Technology, Volume 2,

Issue 3, March 2013.

8. L.B.Bhuyar and A.S. Shahare, “Application of Reverse Logistic Model In Indian Railway For Plastic

Waste Collection And Distribution” International Journal of Mechanical Engineering & Technology

(IJMET), Volume 3, Issue 1, 2012, pp. 33 - 39, ISSN Print: 0976 – 6340, ISSN Online: 0976 – 6359

Books

1. S.K. Khanna, C.E.G Justo, Highway Engineering

1 productive re-use of municipal plastic waste to … re-use... · 2015-03-23 · productive re-use...

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