Determination of water in bitumen by distillation method

The determination of water in bitumen, when required to be determined, is carried out by distillation method. During the test, a quantity of bitumen is dissolved with a solvent (usually xylene) and the solution is then distilled. At the distillation, the mass of water is collected in a graduated glass tube. 

The volume of the collected water divided by the initial weight of the bitumen specimen, multiplied by hundred, expresses the water content percentage in the bitumen. A detailed description of the test is provided in ASTM D 95 (2013) or CEN EN 1428 (2012) (see also Section 4.20.6). 

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