NCAT tests Verde's BioAsphalt cold recycling mix

Verde Resources Inc., a sustainable road materials company headquartered in St. Louis, has announced its BioAsphalt cold recycling mix has been laboratory tested and evaluated by the National Center for Asphalt Technology (NCAT).

NCAT’s initial evaluation confirmed that the mix, integrating biochar and produced entirely from 100 percent reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP), meets and exceeds industry specifications for cold-recycled pavement materials. The mix demonstrated strength, durability and moisture resistance.

Testing was conducted in accordance with guidelines for indirect tensile strength (ASTM D6931) and moisture susceptibility (AASHTO T283). The mix achieved an indirect tensile strength of 61.8 pounds per square inch (psi) under dry conditions and 45.6 psi under wet conditions, with a tensile strength ratio of 0.74, surpassing the industry threshold of 0.7 required for cold-recycled materials.

“The testing indicates promising performance across key engineering parameters,” NCAT Associate Director Nam Tran says. “Verde's innovative combination of biochar and specialized emulsion demonstrates clear potential for cold-recycled asphalt that could be ready for surface applications.”

According to Verde, BioAsphalt is burnerless, solvent-free, enables carbon sequestration and can be produced and applied at ambient temperatures year-round. Traditionally, cold recycling of 100 percent RAP has primarily been used in base and intermediate layer applications beneath the surface course. Alternatively, BioAsphalt has the ability to extend its use to the top layer, where pavement endures direct traffic loads.

In July, NCAT provided early validation of Verde’s technology, affirming its use and potential benefits in the sustainable road construction sector. On Oct. 14, Verde announced it had entered into a 10-year exclusive agreement with Missouri-based Ergon Asphalt & Emulsions Inc., the largest asphalt marketer in North America. The alliance aims to execute a strategic go-to-market plan, accelerate commercialization and expand market reach.

“These NCAT results show that our cold mix BioAsphalt is redefining what's possible with recycled materials,” Verde Chief Operating Officer Eric Bava says. “The performance improvements we're seeing give us tremendous confidence as we move into surface-grade application testing, demonstrating that performance and sustainability can work in perfect alignment, paving the way for a new generation of carbon-sequestering infrastructure.”