Study on production of cation asphalt emulsifier for micro-surfacing by using sulfomethylated lignin

Abstract

This paper describes the research achievement in manufacturing the cation asphalt emulsifier for micro-surfacing using an eco-friendly material which is rich in resources and low in production cost. This material is alkali lignin which used to be treated as wastes during the processing of wood and the cation asphalt emulsifier for micro-surfacing made from this is sulfomethylated lignin quaternary ammonium salt cation emulsifier. This emulsifier is synthesized through sulfomethylation and quaternary-ammonization of alkali lignin so as to allow the emulsifier molecule to contain two hydrophilic groups inside it. Newly developed cation emulsifier is widely used for micro-surfacing for its high emulsifying power and slowly-disintegrable and fast-setting ability.