Environmental Potentials of Asphalt Mixtures Fabricated with Red Mud and Fly Ash

Jul 19, 2026

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Residues such as red mud and fly ash have been explored as components in asphalt mixtures, yet credible support for large-scale adoption requires combined assessment of mechanical performance and environmental potential. The study clarifies the decision-making process for using red mud and fly ash by comparing scenarios that include residue treatment, omit treatment, or evaluate landfilling impacts. A cradle-to-gate life cycle assessment applies Global Warming Potential, Acidification, and Cumulative Energy Demand indicators. Results indicate that residue treatment strongly shapes asphalt-mixture production impacts and can determine feasibility.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages26

Reading Time1 h 6 min

Introduction

Background on red mud and its limitations

Background on fly ash and environmental concerns

Landfilling impacts and need for treatment

Public Disc losure Authorized AUTHOR ACCEPTED MANUSCRIPT FINAL PUBLICATION INFORMATION Environmental Potentials of Asphalt Mixtures Fabricated with Red Mud and Fly Ash The definitive version of the text was subsequently published in Road Materials and Pavement Design, 22(sup 1), 2021-03 Published by Taylor and Francis and found at [http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/14680629.2021.1900899](http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/14680629.2021.1900899) Pub lic Disc losure Authorized THE FINAL PUBLISHED VERSION OF THIS MANUSCRIPT IS AVAILABLE ON THE PUBLISHER’S PLATFORM This Author Accepted Manuscript is copyrighted by World Bank and published by Taylor and Francis. It is posted here by agreement between them. Changes resulting from the publishing process—such as editing, corrections, structural formatting, and other quality control mechanisms—may not be reflected in this version of the text. You may download, copy, and distribute this Author Accepted Manuscript for noncommercial purposes. Your license is limited by the following restrictions: (1) You may use this Author Accepted Manuscript for noncommercial purposes only under a CC BY-NC-ND 3.0 IGO license [http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/igo](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/igo). (2) The integrity of the work and identification of the author, copyright owner, and publisher must be preserved in any copy. (3) You must attribute this Author Accepted Manuscript in the following format: This is an Author Accepted Manuscript by Siverio Lima, Mayara S.; Hajibabaei, M.; Thives, L.P.; Haritonovs, V.; Buttgereit, A.; Queiroz, C.; Gschösser, F. Environmental Potentials of Asphalt Mixtures Fabricated with Red Mud and Fly Ash © World Bank, published in the Road Materials and Pavement Design22(sup 1) 2021-03 CC BY-NC-ND 3.0 IGO [http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/igo](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/igo) [http://](http://)[ ](http://)[dx.doi.org/10.1080/14680629.2021.1900899](dx.doi.org/10.1080/14680629.2021.1900899) © 2021 World Bank Environmental potentials of asphalt mixtures fabricated with red mud and fly ash Mayara S. Siverio Lima a*, M. Hajibabaei a, L. P. Thives b, V. Haritonovs c, A. Buttgereit d, C. Queiroz e and F. Gschösser a a Faculty of Engineering Sciences, University of Innsbruck, Technikerstraße 13, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria; b Department of civil engineering, University of Santa Catarina, Florianopolis-SC, Brazil; c Department of Roads and Bridges, Riga Technical University, LV-1658 Riga, Latvia; d Department of mobility and civil engineering, Albersloher Weg 33, 48155 Münster, Germany; e World Bank, Washington – DC, USA. * [mayara.siverio-lima@uibk.ac.at](mayara.siverio-lima@uibk.ac.at) Environmental potentials of asphalt mixtures fabricated with red mud and fly ash Over the last decade, several studies have evaluated the feasibility of using residues such as red mud and fly ash to compose asphalt mixtures. Further analyses of the mechanical performance of such asphalt mixtures and their environmental potential are required to support large-scale applications for both residues. On the other hand, the hazardous characteristics of red mud and fly ash may demand treatments before their insertion in asphalt mixtures, and determining the environmental impacts of these procedures may define the sustainability of the application. This study aims to elucidate the decision-making process over the application of red mud and fly ash to produce asphalt mixtures. For comparison purposes, limestone and dolomite are used as reference fillers to produce the asphalt mixtures. The cradle-to-gate approach is applied within three distinct scenarios. In the first scenario, the treatment of the residues is included in the modelling, the second excludes treatment, and the third scenario evaluates the environmental impacts of the residues deposited in landfills. To perform the analysis, indicators such as Global

FAQs

What is the main goal of this study on red mud and fly ash asphalt mixtures?

To clarify the decision-making process for applying red mud and fly ash to produce asphalt mixtures by assessing environmental potentials under different handling scenarios.

How are the environmental impacts evaluated in the comparison scenarios?

Using a cradle-to-gate approach with indicators including Global Warming Potential, Acidification, and Cumulative Energy Demand across three scenarios: with treatment, without treatment, and landfilling.

Why does residue treatment matter for environmental performance?

The results show that treatment strongly influences the environmental impacts of asphalt-mixture production, and it can be crucial for determining whether residue application is feasible.

Jul 19, 2026

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