This work aims to use wax to modify a binder employed in the paving industry. This wax can be obtained either directly or as a by-product from plastic waste′s thermal cracking (pyrolysis). The study characterizes this sustainable material and the binders resulting from blending it with conventional or modified bitumen with other additives applied in the manufacture of bituminous mixtures. Different tests were used: thermogravimetric and spectroscopic analysis; consistency tests; testing of dynamic viscosity at various temperatures; and assessment of the rheologic properties of binders. As a result, several crucial findings were reached: this sustainable wax promotes changes in the viscosity of the binders, their handling temperatures can be reduced, and it contributes to some goals of the U.N. 2030 Agenda. In summary, this work allowed us to conclude that the positive effects of a suitable modification of the bituminous binders, which incorporated this wax and other additives, led to improved consistency and rheological behaviour, having provided, for example, lower temperature susceptibility and higher permanent deformation resistance.

Waste cork granules of Quercus cerris bark were subjected to isothermal and non-isothermal slow pyrolysis. The heat of the reaction, as well as the yields and properties of biochar, bio-oil, and pyrolysis gas were investigated by thermogravimetric analysis, FT-IR, CHN elemental analysis, higher heating value (HHV) determinations, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and gas chromatography (GC). The slow pyrolysis was carried out in a semi-batch reactor using an isothermal or a non-isothermal dynamic approach. The results demonstrated that isothermal or non-isothermal slow pyrolysis of cork is a slightly exothermic reaction that produces biochars. The elemental analysis results indicated that non-isothermally produced chars have similar fuel properties compared to isothermally produced chars. The FT-IR results showed that cork suberin undergoes a higher degree of degradation in isothermal chars and aromatization begins in the char structure. Bio-oils are also produced and they consist of C₅–C₁₂ hydrocarbons with C₈ carbon compounds making up the main fraction. Lighter components, mainly C₁–C₂ hydrocarbons are collected in the gas phase. The overall results indicate a possible reduced-cost route for the production of cork-based biochars by using non-isothermal slow pyrolysis.

Brazil is a great producer of rice generating large amounts of husks after rice processing. These hulls contain high percentage of SiO₂, and a great potential as raw material for the development of silica based materials, as zeolites. Thus, this work aims to use the silica of rice hulls as an alternative raw material for the production of zeolite MCM-22. This material was characterized through X-ray diffraction, X-ray spectrophotometry and physical adsorption of N₂ (BET). The diffraction pattern of precursor MCM-22 presented typical peaks of topology MWW. Calcined sample did not presented peaks related with the organic material used in of the zeolite MCM-22, indicating that the thermal treatment was efficient for organic removal. It was confirmed, through the EDX, that the synthesized materials present high amount of SiO₂ and low quantity of Al₂O₃. The BET isotherms indicated that the materials presented structures with microporous, concluding that the alternative silica was promisingly for the development of zeolites.