Elimination of trichloroethylene in asphalt quality control laboratories

Trichloroethylene is used in quality control laboratories to determine the amount of bitumen in asphalt mixtures. Bitumen is a hazardous substance whose elimination or substitution by a less dangerous chemical is a health and safety priority. The elimination of trichloroethylene from the process is carried out through a small muffle furnace that burns the asphalt mix at the temperature of evaporation for bitumen. This procedure facilitates the calculation of bitumen percentage in the mix based on the weight difference.