IP Library Granted Patent US 12,595,369
Granted Patent B2
US 12,595,369 · App. 18/085,753 · Granted Apr 7, 2026

Algae-resistant bitumen-containing materials

Inventors: Elham Fini (Phoenix, AZ); Farideh Pahlavan (Tempe, AZ); Albert Hung (Tempe, AZ)
Assignee: Arizona Board of Regents on behalf of Arizona State University
C08L95/00C08L2555/54C08L2555/64
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,595,369
App. No.
18/085,753
Granted
Apr 7, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A modified bitumen composition includes bitumen, biomass oil including one or more phenolic compounds, and added sulfur. The modified bitumen composition includes between about 5 wt % and about 25 wt % of the added sulfur, at least some of the added sulfur is present as polysulfide chains, and at least some of the one or more phenolic compounds are configured to covalently bind to the polysulfide chains. Making a modified bitumen includes combining bitumen and elemental sulfur to yield sulfur-extended bitumen, and combining the sulfur-extended bitumen with biomass oil including one or more phenolic compounds to yield the modified bitumen.

Claims (23)

1 . A modified bitumen composition comprising:

bitumen;

biomass oil comprising one or more phenolic compounds; and

added sulfur,

wherein the modified bitumen composition comprises between about 5 wt % and about 25 wt % of the added sulfur, at least some of the added sulfur is present as polysulfide chains, the added sulfur comprises about 70 wt % to about 90 wt % crystalline sulfur, and at least some of the one or more phenolic compounds are configured to covalently bind to the polysulfide chains.

2 . The composition of claim 1 , wherein the modified bitumen composition comprises between about 10 wt % and about 20 wt % of the added sulfur.

3 . The composition of claim 1 , wherein the biomass oil comprises plant-based bio-oil.

4 . The composition of claim 3 , wherein the plant-based bio-oil comprises castor oil, corn stover oil, miscanthus oil, wood pellet oil, vegetable oil, or a combination thereof.

5 . The composition of claim 1 , wherein the one or more phenolic compounds comprise one or more of 2,6-dimethoxy phenol, 5-tert-butylpyrogallol, homosyringaldehyde, trans-isoeugenol, 4-ethylphenol, 2-methoxy phenol, or a combination thereof.

6 . A roadway comprising the modified bitumen of claim 1 .

7 . A building material comprising the modified bitumen of claim 1 .

8 . The building material of claim 7 , wherein the building material comprises roofing shingles.

9 . The building material of claim 8 , wherein the roofing shingles demonstrate self-regenerative sulfur blooms during use.

10 . The building material of claim 8 , wherein the roofing shingles are algae-resistant relative to roofing shingles comprising unmodified bitumen.

11 . Roofing shingles comprising the modified bitumen of claim 1 .

12 . A method of making a modified bitumen, the method comprising:

combining bitumen and elemental sulfur to yield sulfur-extended bitumen; and

combining the sulfur-extended bitumen with biomass oil comprising one or more phenolic compounds to yield the modified bitumen,

wherein the modified bitumen comprises between about 5 wt % and about 25 wt % of the added sulfur, at least some of the elemental sulfur is present as polysulfide chains, the elemental sulfur comprises about 70 wt % to about 90 wt % crystalline sulfur, and at least some of the one or more phenolic compounds are configured to covalently bind to the polysulfide chains.

13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the biomass oil comprises plant-based bio-oil.

14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the plant-based bio-oil comprises castor oil, corn stover oil, miscanthus oil, wood pellet oil, vegetable oil, or a combination thereof.

15 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the modified bitumen comprises between about 10 wt % and about 20 wt % of the elemental sulfur.

16 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the one or more phenolic compounds comprise one or more of 2,6-dimethoxy phenol, 5-tert-butylpyrogallol, homosyringaldehyde, trans-isoeugenol, 4-ethylphenol, and 2-methoxy phenol.

Assignments (2)
CONFIRMATORY LICENSE Recorded Feb 3, 2025
From: ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY-TEMPE CAMPUS
To: NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION
Reel/Frame 070085/0323 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 21, 2022
From: FINI, ELHAM; PAHLAVAN, FARIDEH; HUNG, ALBERT
To: ARIZONA BOARD OF REGENTS ON BEHALF OF ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY
Reel/Frame 062168/0288 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 63292680 · Dec 22, 2021
Related Publication 20230193033A1 · Jun 22, 2023
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