`Flow Chart

Take one
briquette of
each sample

Crush and place

in a meatal bowl

Add toluene to
aggregate and
mix until
aggregate is
clear of
bitumen.

Pour contents of
toluene and
bitumen into the
centrifuge.

Oven dry the

left over
samples for 24h
and sieve.

Weigh the fines

left in the
centrifuge and
calculate the
binder content

Introduction
The centrifugal Extraction test is carried out to determine the asphalt content of an asphalt
aggregate mixture. This test is also done to test for general quality.

Apparatus

Glass cylinder

Centrifuge extractor

20l Plastic container

Basin

Balance 100g +- 0.001g

Set of sieves

Organic solvent (Toluene)

Balance 5kg +- 0.5g

Volumetric flasks 1000ml

Spatula

Method
It is important to do this test in a well ventilate area.
1. One briquette of each binder content sample is crushed, and placed in individual
mixing bowls.
2. The, now loose, aggregate is covered with toluene. This is a solvent used to dissolve
the bitumen. The aggregate is left to soak for about 10 minutes.
3. The aggregate is thoroughly washed in the solvent
4. The solvent is poured into a bucket and new solvent is added to washed the aggregate
5. This process is repeated until the colour of the solvent is a light caramel colour and
not black.
6. The solvent that was used to wash the aggregate is taken to the centrifugal machine
and the aggregate is placed in an oven to dry.
7. The beaker going into the centrifugal machine is weighed.
8. Prepare the centrifuge extractor and add the solvent to the funnel to give a
9.

concentration to the binder.

Make certain that the flask is 2/3 full and allow the flask to stand in order for the

coarser, dense particle to settle out.

10. Pour the solvent and the content from the bowl into the filter funnel.
11. Allow the solvent sample to pass the sieve which will allow the solvent and bitumen
to disconnect from the fine aggregates.
12. Watch the extractor unit and to avoid overflow adjust the outlet tap so that a smooth
even flow commences.
13. The cylinder must be washed with toluene until all the bitumen content is removed,
this will occur when the liquid appears to become transparent.
14. Once complete and no more solution is left transfer the centrifuge cup to oven so that
any solvent present can evaporate, once this is completed weigh the flask with the
binder.
15. Weigh the larger aggregates and add finer aggregates to larger aggregate. The
difference between the oven dry aggregate and the original test sample is the mass of
the binder. The percentage is then determined by the binder content with the values
obtain.
16. A sieve analysis is done with the dry aggregate.

Results

4.5%

Mass

Percentage

Percentage

Retained (g)

Retained

Passing

19

100

13.2

15

1.4

98.6

9.5

94

8.8

89.8

6.7

121

11.3

78.5

4.75

119

11.1

67.4

2.36

306

28.6

38.8

1.18

225

21

17.8

0.6

95

8.9

8.9

0.425

32

5.9

0.3

0.7

5.2

0.15

22

2.1

3.1

0.075

0.8

2.3

<0.075

23

2.3

TOTAL

1069

100

Sieve Size

5.0%
Sieve Size
19

Mass

Percentage

Percentage

Retained (g)

Retained

Passing

100

13.2

24

2.4

97.6

9.5

50

92.6

6.7

118

11.8

80.8

4.75

89

8.9

71.9

2.36

269

27

44.9

1.18

221

22.2

22.7

0.6

93

9.3

13.4

0.425

34

3.4

10

0.3

13

1.3

8.7

0.15

35

3.5

5.2

0.075

20

2.1

3.1

<0.075

30

3.1

TOTAL

996

100

5.5%
Sieve Size

Mass

Percentage

Percentage

Retained (g)

Retained

Passing

19

100

13.2

0.8

99.2

9.5

75

6.4

92.8

6.7

148

12.7

80.1

4.75

106

9.1

71

2.36

280

24

47

1.18

237

20.3

26.7

0.6

101

8.7

18

0.425

48

4.1

13.9

0.3

21

1.8

12.1

0.15

40

3.4

8.7

0.075

0.5

8.2

<0.075

96

8.2

1166

100

TOTAL

6.0%
Mass

Percentage

Percentage

Retained (g)

Retained

Passing

19

100

13.2

0.6

99.4

9.5

70

6.4

93

Sieve Size

6.7

115

10.4

82.6

4.75

119

10.8

71.8

2.36

292

26.7

45.1

1.18

247

22.6

22.5

0.6

114

10.4

12.1

0.425

35

3.2

8.9

0.3

10

0.9

0.15

35

3.2

4.8

0.075

0.7

4.1

<0.075

45

4.1

TOTAL

1094

100

Analysis

From the original percentage of binder that was added, it decreased according to the corrected asphalt
content. This can be due to the following reasons:

Incomplete washing of the asphalt from the mix with toluene.

Incorrect data in doing the moisture and extraction corrections.

Not meeting the specified rpm requirements on the extractor.

Overheating the aggregate during drying.

Conclusion

It can be presumed that this test is done for quality assurance, product acceptance and various research
activities. It will certify that the contractor delivers a premium surface that will have a good endurance
and be long lasting.