Tall Oil Research Articles

Increasing the efficacy of recycling agents with simultaneous addition of zinc diethyldithiocarbamate as an antioxidant

Recycling agents are commonly used to enhance the properties of aged asphalt binder. The aged asphalt binder found in reclaimed asphalt pavement is considerably oxidized and has lost a significant amount of its volatiles during its service life. Therefore, its performance characteristics need to be improved before it can fully function in new–pavement construction. Recycling agents are intended to modify performance characteristics; however, typical recycling agents are prone to oxidation, which renders them ineffective. It is hypothesized that the efficacy of recycling agents can be enhanced by simultaneous addition of antioxidants to the binder system. Therefore, in this paper, the synergy between three types of recycling agents (paraffinic oil, triglycerides and fatty acids, and tall oil) and zinc diethyldithiocarbamate (ZnDEC) as an antioxidant is examined using rheological characterization at high, ambient, and sub-zero temperatures. The study results show that the efficacy of recycling agents was improved with the addition of ZnDEC; however, the efficacy of the ZnDEC varied depending on the recycling agent used. The latter was attributed to the susceptibility of recycling agents to oxidation as well as the extent of synergy between a recycling agent and ZnDEC.

Sodium salt scaling in black liquor evaporators and the effects of the addition of tall oil brine

AbstractSodium salt scaling, i. e. the formation of doubles salts comprised of sodium, carbonate and sulphate on the heat transfer surfaces, is a common problem that occurs during black liquor evaporation. In this study, experimental results are presented that provide new insights into the formation and composition of such scales and how they are influenced by the addition of tall oil brine. It was found that increased content of sodium carbonate and sodium sulphate in the black liquor increased scaling, while the ratio between carbonate and sulphate had a lesser influence than reported in other studies. Black liquor created loose clay-like scales comprised of aggregated crystals and black liquor, whereas salt solutions created hard mineral-like scales. The scales formed by both the black liquor and the salt solution showed a tendency to fall off during formation after primary nucleation. It was also found that both tall oil soap and alkalized tall oil brine could inhibit the formation of scales. The inhibition effect is stronger if adding the soap or brine just before scaling starts, but also depends on the amount added, the sodium carbonate and sodium sulphate content in the liquor as well as other factors.

Deterioro y preservación de maderas mediante el uso de preservadores naturales de potencial interés en Brasil

In this review article, the main deterioration processes and uses of natural preservatives in wood are discussed, in particular in Brazil, taking into account its economic relevance in Latin America. It contextualizes the problem of protection and chemical degradation of wood, topics of interest not only in Brazil but also in other countries. In addition, the use of novel products is discussed, such as neem oil, castor oil, pepper extracts, tannins, tall oil, linseed oil, oils extracted from native timbers, chitosan and others. In terms of solutions, more studies are necessary in the field and modification of formulations with fixation agents, biocides, antioxidants, additives and others. In addition, the legal aspects of commercialization for new formulations in countries rich in natural resources, though underdeveloped, must be taken into account.

Essesment of IM-50 and TOFA Adsorbed Layer on Cassiterite in Flotation of Tin Sulfide Wastes

The paper presents the results of experimental study of the adsorption characteristic of theIM-50 and tall oil fatty acids (TOFA) collector reagents on cassiterite. UV-spectrophotometric method, scanning electron and lasermicroscopy were applied to analyze the adsorption of the reagents. SHIMADZU UV 1800 was used to obtain the UV spectra of aqueous solutions of IM-50 reagents and saponified TOFA at varied concentrations. IM-50 has not got characteristic adsorption maximain ultraviolet and visible spectrum. TOFA has a weakly pronounced maximum absorption in the range of 233-244 nm. Microscopicphotographs of cassiterite sections were obtained with LEO 1420VP INCA equipped OXFORD ENERGY 350 analyzer. Reagent IM-50and TOFA collector reagent, Newly formed organic matter phases of IM-50 and TOFA were detected. X-ray spectra characterized theincreased carbon content indicating adsorption on the surface of cassiterite IM-5- and TOFA.By measuring the surface relief parameters of polished cassiterite, using KEYENCE VK-9700 scanning laser microscopy and VK-Analyzer software, a qualitative and quantitative assessment of the IM-50 and TOFA reagent layer on the cassiterite surface was performed. Measurements were performed in the several fields of view and showed the degree of IM-50 coating varied from 40.5 to 42.6%of the surface area, and TOFA average coating was 38.5%. Subsequent washing with water does not remove the reagents from thesurface of the mineral and indicates a strong fixation of IM-50 and TOFA on cassiterite, which can have a positive effect on flotationextraction of sludge tin fractions.Qualitative and quantitative results of the reagent adsorption helped to make a forecast of their floatability by the studied collectors.This study is supported by the Russian Science Foundation (project No. 17-17-01292).

Research on the Development of Technologies for the Production of Granulated Activated Carbons Using Various Binders.

Activated carbons (ACs) are processed carbon-rich materials with a highly developed inner surface and significant porosity used for different media treatment in municipal and industrial plants. Activated carbon may be manufactured as powdered activated carbon (PAC), gritty activated carbon (in a form of raw angels grains) or granulated activated carbon (GAC). The production of the GAC is based on carbonaceous raw materials and various types of binders. The carbon mass is mixed with the binder and formed in cylindrical granules. The binder’s recognition is in a scientific literature side-topic and still needs wider examination. For many years GAC production have been concentrated on the possibility of using sodium carboxymethylcellulose (SCMC). Therefore, the aim of the research was to develop a new binder, in the available technology of granulated activated carbon production. Such binders were tested such as: tall oil (TO), sugar beet molasses (SBM), sodium carboxymethylcellulose (SCMC), SCMC using a verified technological process and SCMC with the addition of gas tar (GT). The conducted research shows that all the quality requirements were met by activated carbons with SBM as a binder. Additionally they showed very high adsorption properties. The manufacturing process was shorter in comparison to other tested binders and more efficient.

A Review of Wood Biomass-Based Fatty Acids and Rosin Acids Use in Polymeric Materials.

In recent decades, vegetable oils as a potential replacement for petrochemical materials have been extensively studied. Tall oil (crude tall oil, distilled tall oil, tall oil fatty acids, and rosin acids) is a good source to be turned into polymeric materials. Unlike vegetable oils, tall oil is considered as lignocellulosic plant biomass waste and is considered to be the second-generation raw material, thus it is not competing with the food and feed chain. The main purpose of this review article is to identify in what kind of polymeric materials wood biomass-based fatty acids and rosin acids have been applied and their impact on the properties.

СТАН І ПЕРСПЕКТИВИ РОЗВИТКУ ЛІСОВОГО КОМПЛЕКСУ РЕСПУБЛІКИ КОМИ

The forestry complex is economically significant for the development of the Komi Republic. It is noticeably inferior to the fuel and energy complex, but it plays an important social role in the forest regions of the republic, where it not only creates employment for the population, but also contributes to the development of municipalities through the creation of a tax base for local budgets. This provision updates the assessment of the current situation and possible development prospects. The purpose of the article is to analyze the state and development prospects of the forestry complex of the Komi Republic. The object of the research is the forest complex of the Komi Republic, which plays an important social role in the forest regions of the republic, where it not only creates employment for the population, but also contributes to the development of municipalities through the creation of a tax base for local budgets. Research hypothesis - an increase in the output of timber products is ensured by the implementation of priority investment projects in the field of forest development in the Komi Republic and the modernization of existing enterprises. Methods used in the study. The study of the state of the forest complex in the region was carried out on the basis of a retrospective analysis of data and expert assessments. Its methodological features are: structuring the efficiency of the forestry complex into production, socio-economic, and financial; using a set of indicators characterizing the specified aspects of efficiency. As a result, on a structured set of indicators, a characteristic of the forest complex of the Komi Republic was obtained, the effectiveness of activities and promising directions of development were determined. Presentation of the main material. It is shown that in the forest complex of the Komi Republic, projects are being implemented that are included in the federal list of priority investment projects in the field of forest development in Russia. Originality and practical significance of the research. The disappearance of small forest enterprises, first of all, negatively affects the social and economic situation of rural settlements of the republic, in which they are sometimes the only objects that provide an economic basis. But despite the modernization of existing enterprises and the creation of new ones, the commodity and industry structure of the complex continues to remain conservative with a predominance of timber and paper products of low and medium levels of redistribution. Conclusions. The technological level of production development remains insufficient, the share of innovative products with high added value is significantly inferior to countries with a developed forest industry. The prospects for the development of the forestry complex of the Komi Republic are determined by domestic and international factors of growth in the consumption of traditional products (lumber, plywood, paper) and new niches (wrapping paper, tall oil, turpentine, bioethanol, composite materials).

Efficient hydrothermal deoxygenation of tall oil fatty acids into n-paraffinic hydrocarbons and alcohols in the presence of aqueous formic acid

Hydrothermal deoxygenation of tall oil fatty acids (TOFA) was investigated in the presence of aqueous formic acid (0.5–7.5 wt%) as a H2 donor in the presence of subcritical H2O pressure (569–599 K). Pd and Ru nanoparticles supported on carbon (5% Pd/CSigma, 5% Ru/CSigma, 10% Pd/CO850_DP, and 5% Ru/COPcomm_DP) were found to be efficient catalysts for deoxygenation of TOFA. The reaction pathway was mainly influenced by the concentration of formic acid and the catalyst. In case of Pd catalysts, in the presence of 0–2.5 wt% formic acid, decarboxylation was the dominant pathway producing n-paraffinic hydrocarbons with one less carbon atom (heptadecane yield up to 94 wt%), while with 5–7.5% formic acid, a hydrodeoxygenation/hydrogenation mechanism was favored producing C18 deoxygenation products octadecanol and octadecane as the main products (yields up to 70 wt%). In contrast, Ru catalysts produced a mixture of C5-C20 (n-and iso-paraffinic) hydrocarbons via decarboxylation, cracking and isomerization (up to 58 wt% C17 yield and total hydrocarbon yield up to 95 wt%) irrespective of formic acid concentration. Kinetic studies showed that the rates of deoxygenation displayed Arrhenius type behavior with apparent activation energies of 134.44 ± 31.36 kJ/mol and 148.92 ± 3.66 kJ/mol, for the 5% Pd/CSigma and 5% Ru/CSigma catalyst, respectively. Furthermore, the experiments with glycerol tristearate, rapeseed oil, sunflower oil, rapeseed biodiesel, and hydrolyzed rapeseed oil produced identical products confirming the versatility of the aforementioned catalytic systems for deoxygenation of C18 feedstocks.

The crude tall oil value chain: Global availability and the influence of regional energy policies

It is believed that several global policies incentivising the energetic utilisation of Crude Tall Oil (CTO) might have had an impact on the demand for CTO from its competing and emerging end-use application in biofuels in the recent years. Hence, this study performed a methodological and structural analysis of the global CTO chain to assess the availability of the CTO (supply) and its demand in the respective end-use markets globally. The overarching goal was to examine whether market distortions occur when CTO is diverted from its historical utilisation in the production of bio-chemicals to the production of biofuels. The methodology consisted of collecting and analysing primary data from currently operating as well as upcoming softwood kraft pulp mills, CTO fractionators and refiners. Additionally, present day as well as upcoming CTO-based biofuel capacities were also collected. The geographical scope covered the following five regions: (1) North America, (2) Europe, (3) Russian region and the common wealth of independent states (CIS) (4) South America (5) Rest of the World. The analysis shows that since 2009 there is a steady rise in the global CTO supply, with a 16% increase in supply until 2018 compared to 2009 levels, with supply and demand in balance. However, this balance is expected to shift after the year 2020, where a tipping point could be reached, since the global CTO demand may exceed the global CTO supply for the first time. This shift in balance can primarily be attributed to the continuously growing demand for biofuels (capacity expansions and new capacities), and will – at least on short term – be reflective of the European legislation and its national implementation by member states. In particular, the estimations project a supply deficit of CTO of 0.6% in 2020. This deficit will rise to 8% or 0.18 million tonnes by 2030 globally, and is driven primarily by the increase in demand for CTO-based biofuels for transportation. The supply-demand imbalance for CTO might grow further unless alternative raw materials become available or corrective legislative measures are taken.

Screening Life Cycle Assessment of Tall Oil-Based Polyols Suitable for Rigid Polyurethane Foams

A screening Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of tall oil-based bio-polyols suitable for rigid polyurethane (PU) foams has been carried out. The goal was to identify the hot-spots and data gaps. The system under investigation is three different tall oil fatty acids (TOFA)-based bio-polyol synthesis with a cradle-to-gate approach, from the production of raw materials to the synthesis of TOFA based bio-polyols at a pilot-scale reactor. The synthesis steps that give the most significant environmental footprint hot-spots were identified. The results showed the bio-based feedstock was the main environmental hot-spot in the bio-polyol production process. Future research directions have been highlighted.

Tall oil based rigid polyurethane foams thermal insulation filled with nanofibrillated cellulose

Two types of biopolyols based on tall oil were used for the preparation of rigid polyurethane (PUR) foams. High functionality biopolyol was synthesized from tall oil fatty acids by epoxidation and subsequent oxirane ring-opening with trimethylolpropane and tall oil esterification with triethanolamine was carried out to obtain low viscosity biopolyol. The optimal dispergation method with sonication was applied to obtain rigid PUR foams with 0–1.5 wt % of nanofibrillated cellulose. The influence of nanofibrillated cellulose content on the rigid PUR foams’ closed-cell content, density, thermal conductivity, compression strength, and compression modulus was evaluated. Addition of NFC fiber into rigid PUR foam structure slightly increased compression strength and Young’s modulus.

Исследование процесса получения и подготовки к использованию экологически чистого биотоплива на основе таллового масла

The article discusses the scientific and technical issues of the methodology for producing liquid biofuel from renewable raw materials of plant origin. As raw materials used wastes from the production of pulp and paper mills — tall oil. The purpose of the work was to study the process of obtaining and determining ways to use the product. The optimal conditions for obtaining biodiesel are determined. The processing of raw materials was carried out by heating it with methanol in a ratio of 1:0,3 at a temperature of 50–65 °C for 2 hours in the presence of 2 % catalyst. The product, after separation of the resulting intermediate, was finally washed with water from the catalyst residues. The process was controlled spectrophotometrically. Using gas-liquid chromatography with mass spectrometric detection, the complete chemical composition of the used raw materials of various degrees of purification was established. It is shown that the main content in the processed oil is represented by natural lipids. Their fatty acid composition is described, comprising more than thirty C10–C24 fatty acids. A general scheme for producing biodiesel, which is a mixture of fatty acid alkyl esters, has been developed. The product was obtained by chemical transformation in the presence of acid catalysts, followed by the formation of fatty acid methyl esters. The component composition of the obtained product, biodiesel, was studied and it was shown that it consists of a mixture of methyl esters of fatty acids more than 95 %. In biodiesel, more than two hundred organic substances are also contained in the form of an insignificant amount of microimpurities. Their number fluctuated around 0,001 %. The basic physico-chemical characteristics of the obtained biodiesel are described in comparison with international requirements for biofuels. The analyzed product samples obtained from distilled TM, according to mass spectrometry, did not contain harmful impurities bromine, iodine, phosphorus and sulfur-substituted compounds. The total content of chlorine-substituted organic substances in all samples did not exceed 0,07 ± 0,02 %, and N-substituted derivatives did not exceed 0,05 ± 0,01 %, which indicates a rather high ecological purity of bitumen fuel. The main directions of the possible use of the product as liquid fuel for mini-boiler nozzles, as well as for operation in conventional diesel engines, are determined.

Evaluation of sodium salt scaling in black liquor evaporators using existing process data

Abstract Scaling caused by sodium carbonate and sodium sulphate salts is a common problem during black liquor evaporation and mills currently have no proper tools to monitor or follow it up. The method proposed enables automatic evaluation of scaling rates and behaviours, together with washing performance, by using measurements that are already available at most mills, such as the boiling point elevation and the overall heat transfer coefficient. The method identified the scaling correctly in most cases, normally >90 %, although fast and sudden scaling proved to be challenging; its performance was also dependent on the quality of the data used. Historical data from three mills was evaluated and it was found that the scaling rate generally increased at higher concentrations of black liquor: one of the mills had almost no scaling below 70 % dry solids content. Another mill, however, deviated from this trend and had significant problems with fast and sudden scaling in one effect at around 60 % dry solids content. The correlation of process parameters revealed that this scaling was triggered, to a large extent, by the absence of tall oil brine, which is a side stream from the production of tall oil that is normally fed to the evaporators.

Hydrophobic Formulations Based on Tall Oil Distillation Products for High-Density Fiberboards.

This study investigates the effect of renewable formulations based on tall oil bio-refinery products on the water vapor sorption and interfiber strength of cellulosic fibers as well as on the properties of high-density fiberboard (HDF) panels. The results obtained for HDF prepared using renewable formulations were compared to the results for HDF obtained using conventional synthetic paraffin wax (hydrowax), which is the hydrophobic agent currently utilized by the industry. Four tall oil distillation products (TODPs) with different levels of fatty and rosin acids were used for preparing the hydrophobic formulations with furfuryl alcohol as an organic solvent. According to determinations with an automated vapor sorption apparatus, the formulations had a similar effect with hydrowax on the sorption behavior of natural fibers. Unlike to hydrowax treatment, the ultimate tensile strength of cellulosic paper-sheets treated with the formulations remained unchanged or significantly increased. At the standard addition load of 1% (wt/wt dry fibers) of the formulations, HDF panels showed comparable and only in one case, e.g., TODP3-based formulation, slightly higher thickness swelling (24 h) than those with hydrowax. The best performing formulation (TODP2-based) in terms of tensile strength of paper sheets did not significantly change the mechanical properties of HDF panels in both standard climate and high humid conditions. Promising results at the standard and humid climate conditions were obtained for HDF panels manufactured with higher TODP2-based formulation amounts (3–5%) and reduced melamine-urea-formaldehyde resin content (10–12% instead of 14%, wt dry resin/wt dry fibers).

Bio-based rigid high-density polyurethane foams as a structural thermal break material

Sustainable development of building industry implies increasing usage of green materials. With this aim and for the intended application as a structural thermal break material, rigid high-density polyurethane foams have been manufactured using polyols derived from renewable resources - tall oil fatty acids. Thermal conductivity, compressive strength and stiffness of the foams of density ranging from ca. 100 to 680 kg/m3 have been determined. Comparison of the bio-based foams with reference foams derived from petrochemical resources demonstrated similar performance characteristics thus suggesting that bio-based foams can also serve as structural thermal break materials. Analytical models are shown to enable estimation of density dependence of the thermal and mechanical properties of foams using the respective experimentally determined characteristics of the monolithic polyurethane polymer.

Beneficiation of a Low-grade Phosphate Ore Using a Reverse Flotation Technique

ABSTRACT This work aimed to upgrade a low-grade sedimentary phosphate ore through attrition scrubbing/desliming and an anionic/cationic reverse flotation technique. The mineralogical and chemical examination showed that the sample contained low-grade apatite minerals (P2O5 ~ 22.5%), and the main associated gangue minerals were gypsum and quartz. The effects of both collector and depressant dosage were investigated and optimized in each individual flotation process. The results of attrition scrubbing accompanied by desliming showed that a high content of P2O5 (27.97%) with a recovery of 72.1% was obtained in the coarse size fraction (+53 µm), and the majority of quartz and gypsum separated in the fine size fraction (−53 µm). The effect of using a new tall oil collector mixture was investigated during the anionic reverse flotation. Sodium tripolyphosphate (STPP) was used as a phosphate depressant during anionic and cationic reverse flotation. The flotation results of the deslimed sample demonstrated that cationic reverse flotation was much more desirable in terms of achieving a high grade and recovery of P2O5 compared to anionic reverse flotation. Considering the statistical design, a maximum grade of 31.23% P2O5 with a recovery of 95.22% was obtained in the non-floated fraction using 950.88 g/t of the collector (amine) and 500 g/t of the STPP.

The effect of diesel fuel-tall oil/ethanol/methanol/isopropyl/n-butanol/fusel oil mixtures on engine performance and exhaust emissions

Tall oil is a waste energy source that can be called as the extract of trees that emerge in paper mills. Fusel oil is a sugar molasses process waste which is a waste alcohol combination of high molecular alcohols. In this study, tall oil acids were mixed with 20% by volume of diesel fuel and alcohol (ethanol, methanol, isopropyl, n-butanol and fusel oil) were added to the same ratio and their effects on combustion, fuel line pressure, engine performance and emissions were investigated. The mixtures were tested by using a single-cylinder engine with compression-ignition, direct injection at constant engine speed (1800 rpm) and 2 Nm, 4 Nm, 6 Nm, 8 Nm engine torques. With the use of fuel mixtures, in-cylinder pressure values decreased in all conditions compared to D100 fuel. The highest drop in in-cylinder pressure values is 7.1% with DT20M20 fuel mixture. Fuel mixtures were found to be sprayed earlier than the injector compared to diesel fuel. BSCF the highest rate of increase was seen with the DT20M20 fuel mixture at 9%. All fuel mixtures have been found to produce reduction in CO and smoke opacity emissions and an increase in HC and NOx emissions. With D100 fuel, emission values measured at (CO) 0.35 ppm and (is) 46%, respectively, decreased to (CO) 0.24 ppm and (is) 33% with the DT20I20 fuel mixture under the same conditions. The highest NOx emission was 14.8% with DT20I20. HC emission using the DT20M20 fuel mixture was determined to be 83 ppm.

Distribution, Metabolism, and Recovery of Resin Acids in the Intestine and Tissues of Broiler Chickens in a Feeding Trial With Tall Oil Fatty Acid-Supplemented Diets.

Tall oil fatty acids (TOFA) are novel, health-improving feed ingredients which have been shown to improve the performance of broiler chickens. TOFA contains resin acids, the suggested key components for its beneficial effects. For product safety, possible accumulation of TOFA components in tissues consumed by end-users is an issue of major importance. Wheat-soy-based diets with an indigestible marker and TOFA at 0, 750 and 3,000 g/t were fed to broiler chickens for 5 weeks; 11 replicate pens/treatment. Deposition of resin acids was assessed by analyzing jejunal tissue, breast muscle, abdominal fat, blood, liver, bile, and digesta along the intestinal tract at the end of the 35-day trial. Both free and conjugated resin acids were quantified. With TOFA 3,000 g/t diet, 30% of ingested resin acids could not be recovered from jejunal digesta. Also, a proportion representing 45% of resin acids fed were in conjugated form and thus had already re-entered the intestine from the bile duct. This means that at least 75% of resin acids ingested had become absorbed in, or proximal to jejunum. Recovery of resin acids in excreta was 45 and 70% when TOFA was fed at 750 and 3,000 g/t, respectively. Based on recovery data, of the estimated 1,087 mg of resin acids ingested by birds on the high TOFA dose during their lifetime, about 330 mg was unaccounted for. In analysis of jejunal tissue, blood, liver, bile, breast muscle, and abdominal tissue, <1 mg of resin acids was found after the 35-day trial when TOFA at the 4-fold the recommended dose was fed. It is likely that the host or microbiota mineralized or converted one-third of resin acids to a form that escaped analysis. TOFA at 3,000 g/t dose caused no detectable adverse effects in broiler chickens. Based on analysis of breast meat and liver, the common edible tissues, a human consumer would ingest <100 μg of resin acids in a single meal. That is one-thousandth of the dose shown to be harmless in rodents. Thus, unintentional exposure of human consumers to resin acids is marginal, and posed no safety concerns.

TG/DTA-FTIR as a method for analysis of tall oil based rigid polyurethane foam decomposition gaseous products in a low oxygen environment

This study is an investigation of the suitability of the thermogravimetry and differential thermal analysis method coupled with Fourier Transform Infrared spectrometry (TG/DTA-FTIR) for a thermal degradation gaseous product analysis of a rigid polyurethane-polyisocyanurate (PU-PIR) foam synthesised from high functionality tall oil fatty acids (TOFA) based polyols. The FTIR spectra of the TG-generated gaseous thermal degradation products of three PU-PIR formulations with varied high functionality TO based polyol content (45, 75 and 95 pbw) and a different tier of isocyanate (NCO) indexes (110, 150, 200, 300 and 400) for each formulation were compared to the spectra of a formulation developed using conventional raw materials. The chemical bands of known chemical compounds and unknown compounds containing specific groups for the foams were evaluated; the focus was on the maximum release rate for specific chemical compounds (CO2; –NCO; H2O; CO) to determine the temperature zone values of the main thermal degradation phases. The experiments were carried out at a low oxygen environment, providing valuable data on the trends for the excretion of specific gaseous substances from the rigid PU-PUR foam that could be released in a real fire, where organic building materials that possess a porous matrix might be present and the nature of the combustion process is predominantly heterogeneous oxidation.

Thin layer chromatography performed in stages to identify the presence of aromatic like fraction in chosen bitumen modifiers

The organic modifiers are used to alter the rheology of the binder in the asphalt concrete at an added cost. For quality control purpose, recognizing if such material is present in the final blend is of an interest. The thin layer chromatography (TLC) using a flame photometric detector (FPD), in addition to the typical flame ionization detector, was demonstrated hereby as a potential analytical tool for this problem, differentiating between tall crude oil based anti-aging agent, polymer, oxidized bitumen and gilsonite. Gilsonite and anti-aging agent consists of the material soluble in solvent used in the development of the fraction referred to as aromatics. Due to the hindered mobility of modifier molecules on the stationary phase, the elution of aromatic fraction stops at position convoluted with polars I and polars II fraction regions, colloquially referred to as resins and asphaltenes. However, for the color of this fraction within gilsonite is different. The presence of gilsonite is thus identifiable visually after the second development bath, but also to an extent with FPD from the final chromatogram. The thin layer chromatography-flame ionization detectors (TLC-FID) procedure is suggested to be supplemented by infrared spectroscopy to discriminate between non-bituminous and bituminous modifiers of similar response during fractionation. • The analysis of thin layer chromatography of bitumen performed in stages. • The procedure to distinguish gilsonite in blends with bitumen is suggested. • The hidden aromaticity of materials such as gilsonite and rejuvenators based on their response to a solvent is demonstrated.