Can bioasphalt cut the petroleum out of pavement?

The city of Des Moines is using part of a popular bicycle trail to test bioasphalt developed by an Iowa State University researcher

By Andrew Nusca, SmartPlanet

Can new technology take the oil out of asphalt?

The city of Des Moines, Iowa has paved part of a bicycle trail with a green replacement called "bioasphalt" that's derived from plant and tree matter, rather than petroleum.

The project is a demonstration to test whether bioasphalt can take the same beating from seasonal temperature swings and weather that traditional pavement can handle.

Originally developed at Iowa State University by professor Christopher Williams, who sought to improve the extreme temperature of asphalt, bioasphalt could create a new market for the crop residues from Iowa's many farms.

The new material isn't just green because it's made from plants -- it's also because it saves energy and money, because it requires lower temperatures for mixing and paving compared to conventional asphalt.

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