Scientists at the University of North Carolina have developed a process to replace the petroleum in asphalt with pig manure. This bio-asphalt is cheaper, requires less heat to mix and the compaction is more durable.
Researchers have developed a process that uses pig manure as a low-cost substitute for petroleum in the production of road asphalt.
In the search for environmentally friendly alternatives, the research group discovered that pig waste is particularly rich in oils very similar to petroleum, which are too low to make petrol but can be adapted to make asphalt.
With funding from the National Science Foundation, they have developed a process that converts pig waste into a black crude oil - what is often used to make asphalt. The cost to process manure oil is US$ 0.56 per gallon, much cheaper and more environmentally friendly than petroleum today.
