Prateek Yadav
What is bitumen?
Bitumen, also known as asphalt, is a sticky, black, and highly viscous liquid or semi-solid form of petroleum. It is a fraction obtained from crude oil or natural petroleum deposits during the oil refining process. Bitumen is primarily composed of hydrocarbons, carbon, hydrogen, sulfur, nitrogen, oxygen, and trace amounts of other elements. It has a colloidal structure which allows it to be used as a binder for aggregating materials like sand, gravel or crushed rock to form asphalt concrete.
Production and refining of bitumen
Bitumen is derived from crude oil through a process called fractional distillation. During fractional distillation, crude oil is heated to about 350-400°C to separate it into various hydrocarbon fractions like gasoline, kerosene, diesel, and bitumen based on their boiling points. Bitumen has the highest boiling point and remains at the bottom of the distillation tower as the residue. Further processing like blending, blowing, and cracking is carried out on the residue to obtain different grades of bitumen suitable for various applications. The properties and composition of bitumen can be modified or customized during refining depending on its end use.
Applications and uses of bitumen
Bitumen finds its key application in road construction where it is used as a binder mixed with aggregates to form asphalt or bituminous concrete for paving roads, highways, airport runways etc. It provides roads with strength, resilience, and waterproofing. Bitumen is also used to produce roofing felts, waterproofing membranes and coatings. Some other uses include production of paints, varnishes, adhesives, lubricating oils and medicines. Bitumen emulsion is also used for surfacing pavements and roofing. Industries like petrochemicals, construction and transportation are major end-users of bitumen globally.
Major bitumen producing and exporting countries
Around 95% of the total bitumen produced globally is used for road construction. The key bitumen producing and exporting countries are-
– Russia – One of the top producers and exporters, producing over 15 million tons annually.
– China – Largest producer consuming over 30 million tons per annum within the country.
– United States – Produces around 9-10 million tons and exports bitumen worldwide.
– Canada – Produces over 8 million tons of bitumen annually, mainly from oil sands. Exports large quantities.
– Venezuela – Holds world’s largest crude oil reserves and produces over 4-5 million tons of bitumen.
– Iran – Produces nearly 4 million tons annually and exports to regional in the Middle East.
– India – Imports large quantities to meet domestic and emerging infrastructure needs.
The global bitumen has witnessed steady growth over the past few decades, driven primarily by rising infrastructural spending across developing nations. According to estimates, the global bitumen was valued at over USD 50 billion in 2020 and is projected to grow at a CAGR of 4-5% during 2021-2026. Rapid urbanization and industrialization are boosting for better connectivity and road networks in countries like India, China, Brazil, Indonesia etc. This is expected to drive bitumen consumption going forward. Further, increasing penetration of polymer and crumb rubber modified bitumen as advanced road construction materials will open new growth avenues in the . However, introduction of alternative road surfacing materials may pose a challenge in the long run. The bitumen will continue prospering with expanding economic and infrastructural development activities globally.
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