Recycling of sterol-containing asphalt binder

1 . An upcycled asphalt binder composition comprising

i) a recycled asphalt comprising reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP), reclaimed asphalt shingles (RAS), or a combination of both RAP and RAS, the recycled asphalt containing aged asphalt binder and reclaimed sterol,

ii) virgin asphalt binder, and

iii) fresh sterol

wherein the reclaimed sterol and fresh sterol collectively are 2.5 wt. % to 35 wt % of the collective weight of the aged asphalt binder and virgin asphalt binder, and wherein the reclaimed sterol reduces or retards an asphalt binder aging rate of the upcycled asphalt binder composition.

2 . The upcycled asphalt binder composition of claim 1 , wherein the reclaimed sterol is present in an amount in the range of 2.5-7.5 wt. % of the aged asphalt binder.

3 . The upcycled asphalt binder composition of claim 1 , wherein the reclaimed sterol is present in an amount in the range of 2.5-12.5 wt. % of the aged asphalt binder.

4 . The upcycled asphalt binder composition of claim 1 , wherein the reclaimed sterol is present in an amount in the range of 5-12.5 wt. % of the aged asphalt binder.

5 . The upcycled asphalt binder composition of claim 1 , wherein the upcycled asphalt binder composition further comprises a softening agent.

6 . The upcycled asphalt binder composition of claim 1 , wherein the fresh sterol is 0.5 to about 20 wt % of the upcycled asphalt binder composition.

7 . The upcycled asphalt binder composition of claim 1 , further comprising added aggregate.

8 . The upcycled asphalt binder composition of claim 1 , wherein the reclaimed sterol and fresh sterol are present in an amount effective to provide a less negative ΔTc value of the upcycled asphalt binder composition compared to an asphalt binder composition without the reclaimed sterol and fresh sterol.

9 . A method of forming an upcycled asphalt binder composition comprising mixing i) a recycled asphalt comprising reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP), reclaimed asphalt shingles (RAS), or a combination of both RAP and RAS, wherein the recycled asphalt contains aged asphalt binder and reclaimed sterol, (ii) virgin asphalt binder, and iii) fresh sterol to form the upcycled asphalt binder composition, wherein the aged sterol reduces or retards an asphalt binder aging rate of the upcycled asphalt binder composition, and wherein the reclaimed sterol and fresh sterol collectively are 2.5 wt. % to 35 wt % of the collective weight of the aged asphalt binder and virgin asphalt binder.

10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the upcycled asphalt binder composition further comprises a softening agent.

11 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the fresh sterol is 0.5 to 20 wt % of the upcycled asphalt binder composition.

12 . A method of forming a paved surface comprising mixing the upcycled asphalt binder composition of claim 9 with added aggregate to provide a paving mixture and compacting the paving mixture over a base surface to form a paved surface.

13 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the reclaimed sterol is present in an amount effective to provide a less negative ΔTc value of the upcycled asphalt binder composition compared to an upcycled asphalt binder composition without the reclaimed sterol.

14 . An upcycled asphalt binder composition comprising i) recycled asphalt comprising reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP), reclaimed asphalt shingles (RAS), or combinations of both RAP and RAS, the recycled asphalt containing, aged asphalt binder and reclaimed sterol, ii) virgin asphalt binder, and iii) fresh sterol, and wherein the reclaimed sterol and the fresh sterol collectively are 2.5 wt. % to 35 wt. % of collective weight of the aged asphalt binder and virgin asphalt binder, and wherein both the reclaimed sterol and fresh sterol reduce or retard an asphalt binder aging rate of the upcycled asphalt binder composition.

15 . The upcycled asphalt binder composition of claim 14 , comprising a ratio of reclaimed sterol to fresh sterol in the range of 5:95 to 95:5.