Recycled used cooking oil (UCO) as a rejuvenator in high content reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP) mixes: A life cycle assessment (LCA)

This study investigates the primary data collected at a used cooking oil (UCO) recycling facility to quantify its environmental impact when used as a rejuvenator in high content reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP) mixes. Annual energy consumption data sets on transportation, storage, filtration, machinery, and purification are assessed using the life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology with the LCA software Simapro 9.4 to evaluate the influential parameters and processes in reducing emissions. Pearson correlations of the production process show a higher association of carbon footprint with two dominant recycling factors: (1) electricity consumption (r = 0.89) and (2) fuel consumption for transportation (r = 0.37). A comprehensive LCA conducted on asphalt pavements with various RAP contents shows that a 28.81 % reduction of carbon emissions can be achieved during the construction phase by adding 60 % rejuvenated RAP. However, the relative uncertainty around RAP moisture content at the time of usage and faster pavement deterioration over the service life when high RAP content is incorporated into asphalt mixes might hinder the environmental advantage of adding RAP during the maintenance phase. Non-properly treated, blended, and rejuvenated RAP can be susceptible to early cracking, thus resulting in increased periodic maintenance. Moreover, the break-even point of economic appraisal suggest over 50 % RAP content is beneficiary even at the higher discount rates (12 %). Conducted LCA and sensitivity analyses emphasise the importance of collecting primary data from recycling facilities and considering both the construction and maintenance phases for implementing effective sustainable strategies.