Polish researchers develop technology to recycle used asphalt

Scientists from the Lublin, Poznań, and Gdańsk Universities of Technology are working on a project valued at over 11.5 million PLN to repurpose used asphalt surfaces for new road construction. The initiative aims to transform low-quality asphalt debris, which is currently often treated as waste and used only for road shoulders or forest paths, into high-quality materials for full-value road surfaces.

The research team, consisting of nearly 50 scientists and students, is investigating the aging mechanisms of road surfaces to better integrate decades-old asphalt into new mixtures. To improve flexibility and durability, researchers are testing additives such as waste materials, biopolymers, and inorganic-organic hybrid materials.

Beyond technical composition, the project includes life-cycle assessments and cost analyses to ensure the new surfaces are economically viable and environmentally beneficial. The goal is to develop a technology that can be transitioned from laboratories to industrial production lines, with the potential for the material to reach road construction companies within three years.