What is Bio-Bitumen?

Bio-bitumen is a bio-based asphalt binding obtainable through renewable biomass materials such as agricultural waste, plant oils, lignin, algae or even animal manure and is an environmentally friendly alternative to petroleum based bitumen.

It is produced by such processes like pyrolysis and hydrothermal liquefaction and has the same adhesive and waterproofing characteristics as conventional bitumen at half the carbon emission. 

India is first to produce in the world, in January 2026 through the efforts of CSIR Indian Institute of Petroleum.

Bio-Bitumen Production Process

The waste is converted to high-viscosity binder, bio-bitumen:

• Feedstock Collection Crop residues (paddy straw, bagasse), wood pulp lignin, vegetable oils or algae.

• Pyrolysis: Bio-oil is produced by heating biomass to 400-500degC without oxygen (also known as biochar).

• Refining/Upgrading: The hydrodeoxygenation or polymerization eliminates impurities, improves viscosity, thermal stability and durability.

• Blending: It is used in mixtures with petroleum bitumen at 10-50 percent to ensure optimum performance according to BIS standards.

The patented process of CSIR-IIP is scalable with the aim of reaching 1 million tonnes/year out of 500 + million tonnes of Indian agri-waste.

Key Infrastructure Applications

The main use of bio-bitumen is in road paving and asphalt mixes:

• Hot Mix Asphalt (HMA): Holds aggregates to construct flexible highways, runways, and urban roads pavements; 20 percent mix blends are proven on Nagpur-Mansar Bypass (NH-44).

• Surface Finishes: Seal finishes, slurry seals and micro surfacing.

• Cold Mixes: To use when in low-traffic location.

• New: Airport aprons, parking areas, waterproofing (roofs, bridges).

Modification performance is equal to petroleum bitumen in penetration, softening point and rutting resistance.

Environmental and Economic Benefits

Drawbacks include higher initial costs and feedstock logistics, offset by subsidies and scale.

Global Developments and India's Lead

Even though pilots exist in the Netherlands (lignin roads), the UK and the US, India was the first country to produce on a commercial scale in 2026, licensing to manufacturers of national highways. The tech of CSIR is in support of Viksit Bharat green infrastructure, whereby 1,000 km of pilots are scheduled by 2027.

Current R&D is 100% bio-content and recyclability, and algae/wood-based extremes climate versions. Sustainability is enhanced with integration with plastic roads and copper slag aggregates. Bio-bitumen will serve 50% of the 5 million tonnes demand of India by 2040, which is in line with net-zero objectives.

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