지속저인 산업발전은 화석 연료사용과 에너지 사용을 증가시켰으며, 각 국가별 온실가스 배출은 증가하고 있는 실정이다. 국제사회는 지구 온난화 방지를 위해 1997년 교토 의정서를 채택하였고, 이산화탄소(CO2) 순 배출량 0을 목표로 하여 자체적으로 온실가스 배출 목표를 정하고 실천하고자 2015년 '파리기후변화협정'을 채택하였다. 우리나라는 2015년 '파리기후변화협정' 체결 후 2030년까지 2017년 총 배출량 대비 24.4 % 감축을 목표로 설정하였다.(외교부, 2020) 국내 사회 각 분야에서는 온실가스 감축을 위해 노력하고 있으며, 도로분야에서는 온실가스 저감을 위한 환경친화형 도로 설계와 시 공기술 개발을 위한 연구들이 검토되고 있다. 그 중 가열 아스팔트 혼합물 제조 시 사용되는 기존의 연료(중유, 벙커씨유, 정제유 등) 를 상대적으로 탄소배출량이 적은 연료(LPG, LNG)로 전환하거나, 플랜트 생산온도를 낮추어 사용되는 연료를 저감하는 방법 등 다양 한 연구를 진행하고 있다. 따라서 본 연구에서는 일반 가열 아스팔트 혼합물보다 약 50℃ 낮은 상태에서 생산할 수 있게 도와주는 탄소저감형 첨가제를 적용 한 저가열 아스팔트의 특성을 파악하고자 하였다. 기본 물성시험으로는 연화점, 신도, 회전점도를 시험하였으며, 공용성 등급 시험을 통하여 PG 등급을 확인하였다. 또한 기존에 상용화된 제품과 차이를 보기 위해, 첨가제가 투입되지 않은 일반 아스팔트와 중온 첨가 제 2종(고상형, 액상형)이 적용된 중온 아스팔트도 동일한 시험을 진행하였고, 저가열 아스팔트와 비교·분석 하였다.

PURPOSES : This study aimed to evaluate the performance of carbon-reduced asphalt mixtures based on asphalt binder and asphalt mixture tests. METHODS : A carbon-reducing asphalt additive was developed, and samples were prepared by mixing the additive(0.85%, 1.35%, and 1.85%) with virgin asphalt binder to measure changes in the asphalt’s physical properties based on the content of the developed additive. The basic physical properties the penetration, softening point, ductility, and rotational viscosity and performance grade of the samples were measured, and the optimal content of the additive was determined to be 1.35%. An asphalt mixture was produced using the optimal additive content of 1.35%, and stability, indirect tensile strength, tensile strength ratio(TSR), and dynamic stability tests were conducted to compare its performance with that of hot mixed asphalt(HMA). Additionally, a dynamic modulus test that could simulate various loading conditions was conducted. Fuel consumption and CO2 emission were measured at the plant. RESULTS : The developed additive had the effect of reducing the viscosity of the binder while maintaining properties similar to those of the base binder when used at the selected content. The mixture test confirmed that the physical properties related to strength tended to decrease slightly when the additive were applied; however, all specifications were satisfied. In the dynamic modulus test, the results were confirmed to be similar to those of HMA. The fuel consumption and CO2 emission were reduced by 25-30%. CONCLUSIONS : Evidently, asphalt mixtures with carbon-reducing additives can perform at a level equivalent to that of HMA. To bolster this conclusion, it is necessary to track the long-term performance of low-carbon asphalt mixtures on pilot roads.

An Arabidopsis small GTPase, RabG3b, was previously characterized as a component of autophagy and as a positive regulator for xylem development in Arabidopsis. In this work, we assessed whether RabG3b modulates xylem-associated traits in poplar in a similar way as in Arabidopsis. We generated transgenic poplars (Populus alba x P. tremula var. glandulosa) overexpressing a constitutively active form of RabG3b (RabG3bCA) and performed arrange of morphological, histochemical, and molecular analyses to examine xylogenesis. RabG3bCA transgenic poplars showed increased stem growth due to enhanced xylem development. Autophagic structures were observed in differentiating xyelm cells undergoing programmed cell death (PCD) in wild type poplar, and were more abundant in RabG3bCA transgenic poplar plants and cultured cells. Xylogenic activation was also accompanied by the expression of secondary wall-, PCD-, and autophagy-related genes. Collectively, our results suggest that Arabidopsis RabG3b functions to regulate xylem growth through the activation of autophagy during wood formation in Populus, as does the same in Arabidopsis.