Biturox® Multigrade Bitumen - Pörner Group

Research and Piloting
Biturox ® Research Facilities
For more than 30 years the Biturox ® Research Centre is an excellently performing service provider to the
whole industry, making or using bitumen. Up to date laboratory and semi-technical research and development
facilities, analytical methods of newest standard and the backup of the nearby OMV refinery enabled and
promoted Pörner‘s efforts to stock-up the most comprehensive expertise on bitumen making world-wide.
Two Biturox ® pilot plants are available for practical testing of feedstock or composition of several components
in batch or continuous operating mode. The results of pilot tests are used as design basis for Biturox ® plants
(i.e. reactor rating). Reference samples can be produced from defined feed compositions ready for further
applied testing by the client.
All results of basic and applied research work, the experience gathered during design, construction, start-up
and routine operation of the numerous Biturox ® plants, the information feedback from the Biturox ® licensees,
the newest findings of the Biturox ® Enhancement Technique (chemical upgrading of bitumen) and, obviously,
the performance reports on application of Biturox ® bitumen have been collected in a most comprehensive
database.
Target
Many bitumen research institutes over-emphasise the significance of crude oil provenance and compositional
classification, simultaneously neglecting to notice and to review the chances, which lie in the thermo-chemical
modification of an almost unlimited palette of crude oil derived feedstock.
The main objective of the Biturox ® Research Facilities is therefore, to find methods how to optimise the chemical
composition of bitumen, namely reaction conditions, which promote the synthesis of polar, aromatic compounds
and suppress the decomposition of asphaltenes to coke.
But finally the goals of the said efforts have to be to satisfy the market demand for bitumen qualities with
outstanding and superior application characteristics at a reasonable low price.
Desired characteristics
Fatique resistance
Ability for emulsion
Stiffness
Good short- and long-term aging properties
Compatibility with polymers
Problems to solve
Chemical composition
Life time
Cracking at low temperatures
Rutting at high temperatures
Optimise adhesive properties
Stability
Result
The Biturox ® technology is a representative example how applied and scientific research can be conducted
effectively, rewarding and to the benefit of many people, driving on good roads, living in comfortable accommodations
and both under cost-saving conditions.
Biturox ® MBW
Mitteldeutsches Bitumenwerk
Granschütz, Germany
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