US agency backs bio-rubber asphalt project

Washington – A US soy-based elastomer project has been awarded a $9.5 million (€9 million) grant by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) as part of a programme to support the scale-up of sustainable bioproduct manufacturing in the country.

Ames, Iowa-based Soylei Innovations has been awarded the grant to “transform” high oleic soybean oil into thermoplastic rubber for pavements, said USDA in an announcement 21 Dec 2022.

The material has the potential to extend repair longevity for existing surfaces, the USDA added, noting that the low-cost solution was particularly important for communities with low paving and maintenance budgets.

“This soy bioproduct has layers of potential, including extending how long road repairs for existing surfaces can last and providing a less costly paving solution nationwide,” said Daryl Cates, American Soybean Association president.

Established in 2020 SoyLei aims to commercialise green technologies developed at Iowa State University.

The company manufactures a 100% soybean-derived material which it says can replace polybutadiene in styrene-butadiene-styrene block copolymer (SBS).

Claimed to be both cost-effective and environmentally friendly, BioMAG is one part rejuvenator and one part polymer.

The SoyLei’s market partner Colorbiotics is currently using the rejuvenator under the tradename Invigorate, to reverse the effects of embrittled and low-quality asphalt materials.

The product, according to SoyLei, restores the flexibility required for pavements to cope with the effects of aging.