India is planning to start large-scale production of bio-bitumen sourced from biomass or agricultural waste.

CRRI New Initiative 

• Objective: To reduce the country’s reliance on imported bitumen.
  • It aims to replace these imports with bio-bitumen within the next decade. 
• The Central Road Research Institute (CRRI) and the Indian Institute of Petroleum, Dehradun, are set to initiate a pilot study on a 1-km road segment constructed using bio-bitumen.

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About bio-bitumen

• Bio-bitumen is a sustainable alternative to traditional fossil-fuel-based bitumen.
  • It is petroleum-free 
• Also known as bio-asphalt. 
• It is  manufactured from organic materials such as bio-char, bio-oil, and similar substances.
• It can be used either to supplement bitumen or to lessen the amount of bitumen in the binder mixture.

How is Bio-Bitumen made? 

• It is a type of asphalt mixture  which is made from lignins derived from various waste materials
  • Lignins are natural biopolymers found in the plant cell wall. 
    • It provides structural support and aids in growth. 
• Production Process:  bio-bitumen needs heating of waste mixture to around 500°C without oxygen.
  • This process is known as pyrolysis
    • It is similar to charcoal and biochar production
      • It is used in biofuel manufacturing. 

Benefits of Bio-Bitumen

Using bio-based bitumen offers several advantages:

• Reduced Imports: It helps reduce the dependency on imported bitumen.
• Environmental Impact: Addresses issues like stubble burning by utilizing organic waste materials.
• Economic Benefits: Results in substantial savings on foreign exchange.
• Promotion of Bio-economy: Boosts the bio-economy by encouraging the use of renewable and sustainable resources in construction.

About Bitumen

• Bitumen is a black substance derived primarily from crude oil. 
• It consists of complex hydrocarbons and includes elements such as calcium, iron, sulfur, and oxygen. 
• Bitumen is renowned for its ability to provide waterproofing and adhesive properties. 
  • It makes it a vital material in the construction sector.

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India’s Current Situation – Bitumen

• Demand Growth: India’s bitumen consumption has risen notably due to increased road construction activities.
  • Over the past five fiscal years, the annual average consumption has increased to 7.7 million tonnes from 5.94 million tonnes recorded between 2014-15 and 2018-19.
• Import Dependency: India currently imports approximately half of its annual bitumen requirement.
  • Imports: In the fiscal year 2023-24, India imported 3.21 million tonnes of bitumen.
  • Domestic Production: During the same period, India produced 5.24 million tonnes of bitumen locally.