GUIDE

November
2018
9 STORAGE AND HANDLING
OF BITUMINOUS EMULSIONS

Purpose
The purpose of this guide is to provide to the Bituminous Emulsion End User a brief
explanation of Bituminous Emulsions and advice on it’s Safe Storage and Handling, Types,
Care and Equipment Design, Operation and Maintenance.

What is a Bituminous Emulsion

A Bituminous emulsion is a mixture of fine Bitumen droplets and Emulsifiers dispersed in
Water. The purpose of the emulsifier is to make the emulsion stable to transport/store and
break during use.

Disclaimer

Although the information contained in this guide is believed to be fundamentally correct and current at time of printing, the
Australian Asphalt Pavement Association does not accept any contractual, tortious or other form of liability for its content or any
consequences arising from its use.
A colloid mill is used to refine the bulk bitumen into bitumen droplets (approx. 10 micron),
with the mill determining how fine the emulsion is.

The emulsifier adds a charge to the bitumen droplets and this keeps the particles separated
and suspended in the water.

Storage and Handling of Bituminous Materials

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Negative Charge = Anionic Emulsion Positive Charge = Cationic Emulsion

In Australia, the more common variety is Cationic due to having a predominately negatively
charged aggregate in the field. Most important is that Cationic and Anionic emulsions should
never be mixed to avoid coagulation, cleaning cost and/or cross contamination.
Emulsions are inherently unstable and over time, if not circulated and left undisturbed, the
particles will flocculate (stick together), eventually coalescing (merging to form larger
particles) and then sedimenting (dropping to the bottom). If this happens the bitumen is no
longer emulsified and has separated from the water and will not remix.

Flocculation Coalescence Sedimentation

Because bitumen is denser than water, larger particles settle faster, react more slowly with
aggregates, and can have adverse effects on storage life, cohesion and adhesion.
Well designed and maintained colloid mills, in conjunction with good emulsifiers, make fine
stable emulsions. Other specialist additives can also be used to adjust for changes in
bitumen quality or to adjust the break/storage time.
To reduce settlement and avoid sedimentation (non-redispersible) correct handling and
storage are of major importance.
Any activity that forces particles close together or disrupts their surface charge risks
coarsening and destabilising the emulsion.
These activities include:

 high shearing due to pumping (e.g. gear pumps)

 overheating (localised or bulk)
 freezing
 excessive circulation
 contamination with other emulsions, cutbacks or chemicals.

Storage and Handling of Bituminous Materials

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Suitable storage tanks and pumps should be used to minimise the risk of degrading the
quality of the emulsion.

What are the benefits of Bituminous Emulsion

Good cohesion (ability to stick to) with aggregate due to the:

 opposite charge of the bitumen to the aggregate

 greater surface coverage of the aggregate resultant from rise of the binder up the
aggregate and the initial water content of the emulsion which then evaporates. This is
commonly referred to as Binder Rise, Binder Uppage or Binder Creep.
 Able to be applied in cooler conditions, which extends the sealing season.
 Utilised at lower temperature so no/less chance of sustaining serious burns
 No fuming

Application’s for Bitumen Emulsion

There are many different types of Bitumen Emulsion’s which can be applied for a variety of
uses including:

 Light, medium & heavy traffic

o maintenance
o spray sealing - seals
o spray sealing - primer seals
o spray sealing - primes
 Asphalt Tack Coat
 Pavement Rejuvenation
 Dust Suppression
 Unsealed Road Binding
 Precoating of aggregate

Storage and Handling of Bituminous Materials

4
  Crack Sealing
 Ingredient in the production of cold paving products eg Micro Surfacing & Cold
Mix Asphalt

Types
There are 2 Emulsion Types:

 Standard Emulsions

 High Binder Content Emulsion (HBCE) / Polymer Modified Emulsion (PME)

Standard Emulsions are applied at ambient temperatures; it is always advised to avoid

direct contact with skin and to have adequate ventilation. Follow the advice in the relevant
product Safety Data Sheet.

High Binder Content Emulsions (HBCE) / Polymer Modified Emulsions (PME)

are handled at temperatures between 80⁰C to 95°C, still significantly lower than straight or
polymer modified bitumen products, but at these temperatures, serious burns can occur so
the same precautions applied to hot binders should be adopted for these emulsions. Refer to
the Austroads Bituminous Materials Safety Guide (2014).

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5
 STANDARD EMULSIONS

END USER

Storage and Handling Guide

Storage and Handling of Bituminous Materials

6
Safety
Bituminous Emulsions are the safest form of Bitumen products as they are handled at
ambient temperatures which eliminate any chance of burns which can occur with hot applied
binders.
Whilst Standard Emulsions are applied at ambient temperatures, it is always advised to
avoid direct contact with skin and to have adequate ventilation and follow the advice in the
relevant product Safety Data Sheet.

Storage life
The length that emulsions can be stored varies according to the emulsion type and
components used. For example rapid-set emulsion has a shorter shelf life than a slow-set
emulsion.
You should seek advice from your emulsion supplier on the shelf life of their products.
Sedimentation and sieve tests are good indicators of an emulsion’s potential storage life.
During long-term storage, sedimentation of the bitumen droplets occurs due to the higher
density of the bitumen versus water. Regular circulation will help increase the shelf life of the
emulsion but care must be taken not over circulating which can shear the emulsion and
cause residue build up.
Emulsions may increase in viscosity (thickness) over time and warming the emulsion prior to
use will reduce the viscosity.

Bulk Storage
Tank design
All regulatory and company engineering standards must be followed when designing and
constructing a tank.
Tanks may be made from mild or stainless steel, high density polyethylene, polypropylene
co-polymer and many engineering plastics. The selection of materials to be used will depend
on the heating system to be employed. It is always recommended that the emulsion supplier
be consulted when considering a new tank or repairing tanks.
AAPA recommends the following features be included:

 liquid level measurement (counterweight, pressure or electronic ) to manage stock on

hand
 access hatch to enable inspection and cleaning
 ability to bottom fill to avoid breaking up and re-entraining the emulsion skin
 a means of earthing the tank.
Tanks may be raised on a platform to allow gravity feeding or for space considerations.
In areas where excessive cold/freezing may occur, consideration should be given to

Storage and Handling of Bituminous Materials

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  Heat tracing and Insulating pipework/pump housing
 Enclosing of the under section of the tank to protect the pump/pipework
 Tank insulation and shrouding. A product, such as mineral wool, may be used for
insulation then clad with aluminium or a similar material.
 Tank heating to protect the product from freezing/excessive cooling.
Bunding is required and must conform to local statutory requirements. Basic spill protection
may consist of a moat around the tank, usually with some absorbent material such as sand.

Vertical Tanks
Vertical tanks are ideal for the storage of standard
Example of a vertical tank
emulsions. With an angled return pipe, a round
shape tank creates a whirlpool, promoting gentle
circulation of the emulsion. This tank type also has
a reduced surface area resulting in less exposure
of emulsion to air and skin formation. They also
occupy less space, are easier to heat, insulate and
monitor for product level.

Horizontal Tanks
Horizontal tanks are generally not recommended
Example of a horizontal tank
because they present a larger surface area to the
air that can form a large skin, are more difficult
clean and circulate. Their use should be limited to
short term field storage. Horizontal tanks may be
set with a slight slope to facilitate draining and a
directional return pipe to promote circulation.

Self Bunded Container Tanks

Emulsion Self Bunded Container Tanks (SBCT)
offer an alternative to fixed position tanks and
avoids the need for costly civils (ie bunds).
These tanks are specifically developed for the
storage and handling of Emulsion, with an
appropriate circulation system and all pump and
pipework placed behind a bund within the
container.
Containerised Tanks where pumps, pipework or
hoses, the most common point of leaks, are Example of a Self Bunded Container
external to the container bunding (eg Double Tank
Skinned Fuel Tanks) do not meet EPA bunding
guidance requirements.

Storage and Handling of Bituminous Materials

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Tank safety
It is always advised to consult your Emulsion supplier when considering purchasing,
modification, repair or replacement of your Emulsion Tank.
If considering a Used tank, it is always advised to:

 learn the history of the tank eg Age, Previous use, internal design,
 thoroughly clean before use to ensure the best environment for the storage of your
Bituminous Emulsion. Cleaning can involve the use of use steam, high pressure
water, low pressure water, dry ice and/or kerosene.
Before commencing any work on a tank care should be taken to ensure it is safe to do so
and that there is no flammable or harmful liquid, gas or residue present.
Never cut a used tank unless an appropriate hot work permit is obtained.
Care is required when siting storage tanks, for example they should not be located near high
tension power lines. Where practicable, they should be located away from waterways.

Tank plumbing
All pipework should be engineered to:

 provide the smoothest/gentlest travel for

the emulsion to maintain it homogenous
state. It is best to limit the length and
number of bends or restrictions in the
pipework.
 allow for isolation of the vessel
 have pipe/pump housing heat
traced/insulated to protect the emulsion at
the point where it is most vulnerable to
cold temperatures.
 Have a suction line the same size or
larger than the pump outlet which should
take product directly from the bottom of
the tank.
 Pump outlet should be the same size or Insulated tank pipework
no less than one size smaller than the
suction line.
The return/recirculation pipe into the tank should be near the bottom of the tank so that it
remains below the level of the liquid to prevent foaming.
In vertical tanks, the return/recirculation line into the tank should be located away from the
suction line and angled so that it creates a whirlpool effect to assist with circulation.
In horizontal tanks the return line should be at the opposite end of the suction point and
angled towards one side in order to create an internal wave effect to assist with circulation.

Storage and Handling of Bituminous Materials

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Do not over or under circulate emulsion. Circulation is generally only required twice a day for
a period long enough to circulate the top portion of the emulsion for 20mins. As this time will
always differ depending on the volume in the tank at the time, a general rule of thumb of 2 x
1hr sessions per day will provide a level that should circulate product for long enough as to
no over or under circulate. Inspections of the tank internal residue build up will allow
judgement to be made as to whether the recirculation time and frequency requires
adjustment.
The ideal time for circulation is prior to load out.

Tank inspections
A build-up of residue inside a tank will occur over time and can reduce the storage life and
the effectiveness of an emulsion. However with simple proactive maintenance practices,
operators of bituminous emulsion storage tanks will be able to ensure the storage tank is
kept free of excessive residue.
An annual inspection of the inside of the tank is highly recommended to determine the
volume and viscosity of any residue. This will then dictate the best course of action required
in terms of the need for flushing, cleaning or dig out.
Only those with a confined spaces permit and the appropriate PPE should enter a tank.
Prior to changing over emulsion suppliers AAPA recommends that an inspection of the tank
is performed by the new supplier to determine what cleaning procedure will be required to
ensure the emulsion will not be adversely affected by the previous product.

Storage of Emulsion in Packaged form

Packaged Emulsion eg Pails, Drums or IBC’s, are suited to situations where only small
amounts are needed or the use of emulsion will be infrequent. As with Bulk Emulsion the
same best practices apply to storage and handling of emulsion in packaged form, this
includes the following practices:

 Keeping packaged Emulsion undercover in areas where the product won’t be exposed to
temperatures below 5°C to avoid freezing and damage from frost
 Store packaged emulsion in an upright position off the ground (e.g. on a pallet)
 Circulating
o IBC’s
 Use an agitation tool/pump to stir the emulsion within the IBC
o Pails/Drums
 Use an agitation tool to stir the emulsion within the drum
 Use an engineered pail/drum rotator to help keep emulsion homogenous
 Ensure vessel is sealed and lay the pail/drums on their side and roll them
for several metres along the ground to mix the emulsion and then return
them to their upright position
 Ensure good stock rotation practices and use emulsion within 3 months from the date of
manufacture

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Do not heat emulsion when it is in a sealed packaged format as this can increase the risk of
an explosion. Heating of emulsion should only occur once it is transferred to a vessel
designed for such a purpose.

Heating systems
With Bituminous Emulsions the objective is to stop the emulsion excessively cooling, ie < 5⁰c
rather than actually heating the product.
Avoid heating without stirring as this can result in localised overheating, particularly if
electrical heating is employed, which can lead to breaking of the product inside the tank and
a subsequent build-up of residue.
Types of heating systems suitable for emulsion tanks include:

 Internal low wattage electrical heating.

 External low wattage electrical heat trace
All Emulsion pipes and transfer pumps should be heat traced and insulated in order to
ensure trouble free start-up and fewer blockages, resultant from cold temperature or
settlement. Alternatively, if use is infrequent or in extreme cold weather, lines and pumps
may be drained and pumps filled with kerosene.

Rate of heating
Care must be taken to ensure emulsion is not heated rapidly. The heating rate should not
exceed 10°C per hour as this implies excessively high heating surface temperatures.
Exceeding this rate of heating can cause flocculation of the bitumen droplets especially if it
contains polymers around the heating flues or electrical elements.

Recommended storage temperatures

Emulsions are sensitive to extremes of temperature. It is best to keep them within a
temperature range as recommended by the manufacturer. The table below gives a guide to
the minimum and maximum storage temperatures for Standard Emulsion types.

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 Emulsion Minimum Ideal Maximum
°C ⁰C °C

Standard Emulsion – 10 20 - 30 60
Anionic and Cationic Slow,
Medium or Rapid Set ≤ 69%
Bitumen Content

Pumps

Centrifugal pumps
For storage tanks, centrifugal pumps are most suited for caring for the emulsion and
avoiding shearing of the emulsion.
In a centrifugal pump the material is fed into the centre of the pump under gravity and a high
speed impeller pushing it out to the recirculation or despatch outlet.
Another option is to gravity feed when despatching from the tank.

Loading emulsion
When loading road tankers or sprayers, or filling drums, the emulsion should be passed
through a filter consisting of a mesh sieve with an aperture of 4 – 6 mm. This will prevent
lumps of bitumen blocking nozzles in the spray bar.
These sieves should be checked and cleaned regularly to maintain acceptable loading rates.
Loading of emulsion should be done by sucking the product into to bottom of the sprayer or
by lowering the filling hose to the bottom of the road tanker. This is to avoid foaming or
breaking of the emulsion due to splash filling.
It is not recommended that emulsion be returned into storage as it can compromise the
quality of the product.

Emulsion dilution
On occasion emulsions are diluted with water before use to reduce their viscosity. Slow-set
emulsions, as a rule, can be readily diluted with clean water prior to use, for example as dust
palliatives, tack coats etc.
Rapid-set emulsions are not recommended for dilution as this renders them prone to
irreversible sedimentation in a very short period of time.
Emulsions, once diluted, should be used immediately and not stored.
Water must be added to the emulsion and not vice versa.
Dilution water must be clean and preferably potable. The water may require additives, for
example where hard water is used with some anionic systems. Speak to the supplier for
more detailed advice.

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AAPA recommends you carry out a simple dilution test in a glass container to ensure that
the candidate water is compatible with the emulsion.
If you immediately see the bitumen droplets start to coalesce, this is an indication that the
water is incompatible.

Product changeover
When changing products in a tank follow the appropriate changeover procedure. These are
outlined in section 7 of the Austroads Bituminous Materials Safety Guide (2014).
When considering what ‘clean’ means remember that cationic emulsions react with metal or
anti-rust coatings on new tank walls. If you clean all residue of bitumen off, the first emulsion
will break on the metal and may cause slugs. This is especially true for PME and CRS
emulsions but can also occur with CAM170 and CSS 170 emulsions.
For new storage tanks, problems can be avoided if they are first flushed with a weak
hydrochloric acid solution or diluted CRS soap solution immediately prior to use.

Storage and Handling of Bituminous Materials

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 Standard Emulsion Storage & Handling

Do’s and Don’ts

Do’s Don’ts
Do transport bulk emulsion in suitable Don't pump/agitate excessively or for
trailers free of contaminants. extended periods; max 2 x 1hr sessions per
day is generally adequate.
Do transport packaged emulsion in full
containers. Don't mix anionic and cationic emulsions.
Do install processes and equipment to Don't allow product to freeze or cool <5⁰c.
ensure clean transfer of product into/from
the emulsion tank Don't use blow torches unless you have no
choice as localised overheating will break
Do heat trace emulsion pipework, valves the emulsion adjacent to the blockage. If
and pump. required use gently heat and exercise care.
Do circulate emulsions regularly as per the Don't heat emulsions vigorously and never
manufactures instructions and before more than 85°C.
unloading. Generally 2 x 1hr session per
day Don’t use diesel to clean tanks, pumps or
pipeworks. Flush first with water and, if
Do use gentle agitation when heating or just necessary, use a small amount of
before load out. kerosene.
Do provide positive drainage to prevent Don’t use incompatible cleaning agents.
emulsion storage or running back into
uncirculated lines. Don't leave emulsion in uncirculated
lines/hoses in cold weather or for extended
Do check compatibility of emulsions when periods.
changing product.
Don't heat without agitation.
Do use different tanks for different
emulsion. Don't aerate emulsion.

Do clean tanks, pipes, hoses and Don’t do regular small tank top-ups; run
equipment regularly. down tank contents to approx 40% then
refill.
Do inspect internals of emulsion storage
tanks annually to assess maintenance and Don’t suck back solvent into a tank as this
cleaning needs. will soften bitumen particles over time and
can create sludge, or adversely affect the
Do blow/clean out spray nozzles with properties of the residual binder.
compressed air or suitable cleaning agent
after spraying. Don't return diluted emulsion or any other
product into storage tanks.
Do apply gentle localised heating to clear
blockages. Avoid aggressive heating of Don’t ignore Emulsion Tank site
lines. housekeeping or maintenance.

Storage and Handling of Bituminous Materials

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 High Binder Content Emulsions
(HBCE)
or
Polymer Modified Emulsions (PME)

END USER
Storage and Handling Guide

Storage and Handling of Bituminous Materials

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Safety
Bituminous Emulsions are the safest form of Bitumen products used on our roads as they
are handled at ambient/lower temperatures than other hot applied binders.
Hot applied binders are generally sprayed between 165⁰C - 200⁰C whereas High Binder
Content Emulsions (HBCE) and Polymer Modified Emulsions (PME) are sprayed at
temperatures between 80⁰C to 95°C, significantly lower and safer for the users.

Whilst HBCE & PME are spray between 80⁰C to 95°C burns can still be suffered so the
same precautions applied to hot binders should be adopted for HBCE and PME. Refer to the
Austroads Bituminous Materials Safety Guide (2014).

Storage life
The length that HBCE and PME can be stored varies significantly to Standard Emulsion, as
these types of Emulsion need to be stored at > 50⁰C.

It is recommended that HBCE & PME

o can be stored up to 3 weeks provided storage tanks are cleaned prior to use
and have adequate heating capability
o once in storage allow the product to cool to ambient temperature and only re-
heat just prior to use
o slow circulation is necessary when re-heating provided the temperature is
above 70⁰c
o the tankers must be able to heat the product at a rate not greater than 10⁰c
per hour without localised heating.
Users should seek advice from the emulsion supplier on the shelf life of their products.
Sedimentation and sieve tests are good indicators of an emulsion’s potential storage life.
During long-term storage, sedimentation of the bitumen droplets occurs due to the higher
density of the bitumen in the water phase. Circulation of the emulsion at regular intervals will
help increase the shelf life of the emulsion but users must take care to not over circulate
which can shear the emulsion.
Emulsions may increase in viscosity/thickness over time and warming the emulsion prior to
use will reduce the viscosity and allow the emulsion to flow more freely.

Bulk Storage
Tank design
All regulatory and company engineering standards must be followed when designing and
constructing a tank.
The storage of HBCE and PME requires heated tanks ie Bitumen Tanks and therefore
require mild or stainless steel construction. It is recommended that the emulsion supplier be
consulted when selecting a tank.
AAPA recommends the following features be included:

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  liquid level control (pressure, weigh scale or electronic)
 manhole to allow access for inspection and/or cleaning
 ability to bottom fill to avoid breaking up and re-entraining the skin
 a means of earthing the tank.
Tank must be insulated. A product, such as mineral wool, may be used for insulation, then
clad with aluminium or a similar material.
Bunding is required and must conform to local statutory requirements. Basic spill protection
may consist of a moat around the tank, usually with some absorbent material such as sand.

Vertical tanks
Vertical tanks are the most suited style for the storage of
Bitumen as they

 have a reduced surface area which minimises

evaporative loss & skinning of bitumen
 occupy less space
 are easier to heat, insulate and monitor for product
level.

Example of a vertical
tank

Horizontal tanks
Horizontal tanks are commonly used but generally
not recommended because they present a larger
surface area to the air that can form a skin and it
can be more difficult to achieve adequate
circulation. Their use should be limited to short
term field storage.
Horizontal tanks are often less expensive than
vertical tanks. They may be set with a slight slope
to facilitate draining and circulation.

Example of a horizontal tank

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Bitutainers
Bitutainers are purpose built containers for the
storage during transport of Bitumen. Like Horizontal
tanks, Bitutainers present a larger surface area to
the air that can form a skin and can be difficult to
achieve adequate circulation. Their use is ideal for
transport and short term field storage.

Tank safety
Used tanks must be thoroughly cleaned before use, for example by using steam or high
pressure water, and any chemical residues flushed from the tank.
Before cutting a used tank, for example for transportation or modification, ensures there is
no flammable product present.
Never cut a used tank unless an appropriate hot work permit is obtained.
Care is required when siting storage tanks, for example they should not be located near high
tension power lines. Where practicable, they should be located away from waterways.

Tank plumbing
Proper plumbing is very important, including:

 Adequate sampling points e.g. a 25mm

diameter sampling line and cock for
each tank at around 0.6-1m above the
bottom of tank.
 A full sized suction line (same size or
larger than the transfer pump inlet). The
latter should be as short as practicable
with as few bends and restrictions as
possible.
 Inside the tank keep the end of the
suction inlet about 50mm above the tank
bottom. An elbow may be added at the
end of the suction inlet to minimise the
risk of blockages from falling lumps.
Insulated tank & plumbing
Tank & Pipework should be adequately heated,
heat traced and insulated to maintain the temperature of the emulsion.
Circulation should only be undertaken once the product is at >80⁰c and is required to ensure
proper mixing of the HBCE & PME and can be achieved through the use of:

 Pump & Pipework

o This should be the same size or no less than one size smaller than the
suction line.
o In vertical tanks, the return line should re-enter the tank at the top.

Storage and Handling of Bituminous Materials

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 o In horizontal tanks, the return line should re-enter the tank at the top at the
opposite end from the suction point.

 Stirrers
o propeller stirrers operated at a low speed
o larger anchor sweep stirrers.

HBCE can use either Pump or Stirrers for circulation and the pipework needs to be an
independent system and should not be mixed with other tank farm products.
PME is best cared for with both Pump and Stirrers for circulation.
Do not over mix the emulsion. Mixing is generally only required once a week or for a short
time just before load out.

Tank inspections
Residue build-up inside a tank can reduce the storage life of an emulsion. Operators of sites
with bulk bituminous emulsion storage tanks should have a strategy for ensuring the storage
tank is kept free of excessive residue.
An annual inspection of the inside of the tank is highly recommended to determine the
volume and viscosity any residue in order to determine the best course of action required
clean the tank.
Only those with a confined spaces permit and the appropriate PPE should enter a tank.
Prior to changing over emulsion suppliers AAPA recommends that an inspection of the tank
is performed by the new supplier to determine what cleaning procedure will be required to
ensure the emulsion will not be adversely affected by the previous product.

Heating systems
Types of heating systems suitable for bitumen tanks include:

 low wattage electrical heating (most preferable as it provides a gentler heat)

 oil heater
 steam coils
Pipe and Pumps should be traced and jacketed to assist with trouble free start-up and fewer
blockages.

Rate of heating
Ensure that emulsion is not heated rapidly. The heating rate should not exceed 10°C per
hour as this implies excessively high heating surface temperatures. Exceeding this rate of
heating can cause flocculation of the bitumen droplets especially if it contains polymers
around the heating flues or electrical elements.

Storage and Handling of Bituminous Materials

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Recommended storage temperatures
Emulsions are sensitive to extremes of temperature. It is necessary to keep them at a
constant temperature within a certain range as recommended by the manufacturer. The
table below gives a guide to the minimum, ideal and maximum storage temperatures for
HBCE & PME.

Emulsion Storage Minimum Ideal ⁰ C Maximum

Time °C °C
High Binder Content < 1 week 10 50 - 60 85
Emulsion (HBCE) or
Polymer Modified
Emulsion (PME) ≥ 70%
Bitumen Content
High Binder Content > 1 week 10 Let cool to 85
Emulsion (HBCE) or ambient and
Polymer Modified then reheat
Emulsion (PME) ≥ 70% (max 10⁰c
Bitumen Content per hr) prior
to load out

Pumps
Pumping/Circulation should only be undertaken once the product is at >80⁰c with warm/hot
binders best served with Positive Displacement Pumps (eg Gear or Vein Pumps)
Positive displacement pumps
Positive displacement pumps, such as rotating gear types, can shear the emulsion if pump
tolerance is tight. If purchasing a new pump request extra gear clearance of 0.08 to 0.1mm.
Alternatively, old or worn gear pumps may be suitable. The pump should be jacketed and
heated. A relief valve/bypass is essential.

Loading out HBCE or PME

Proactive maintenance of tanks should prevent/detect the build up of residue within the
tanks prior to it causing issues with product spraying.
Filtering during loading out should only be implemented if there is a problem present and if
required the filter should have apertures of 4 – 6 mm, about the diameter of a pencil.
Filters, if used unnecessarily or of the incorrect size, can actually have a detrimental effect
on the product and been the catalyst of lumps forming and blocking nozzles in the spray bar.
Loading of emulsion should be done by sucking the product into to bottom of the sprayer or
by lowering the filling hose to the bottom of the road tanker. This is to avoid foaming of the
emulsion caused by splash loading.
At no stage should any product be returned into emulsion storage.

Storage and Handling of Bituminous Materials

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 HBCE or PME

Do’s and Don’ts

Dos Don’ts
Do be proactive with tank inspections and Don't pump excessively.
maintenance
Don't allow product to freeze.
Do use periodic gentle agitation during tank
storage e.g. weekly, Don't use blow torches unless you have no
choice as localised overheating will break
Do warm emulsion to 80°C before the emulsion adjacent to the blockage.. If
circulation. necessary, exercise care.
Do clean tanks, lines and equipment. Don't heat emulsions vigorously and never
more than 85°C.
Do use different tanks for different
emulsion. Don’t use diesel to clean lines. Flush first
with water and, if necessary, use a small
Do check compatibility of emulsions when amount of kerosene. A compatible soap
changing product. solution may be used for more effective
Do apply gentle localised heating to clear flushing of lines provided they are not
blockages. Avoid aggressive heating of slugged.
lines. Don't aerate emulsion.
Do use gentle agitation when heating or just Don't return diluted emulsion into storage
before load out. tanks
Do inspect emulsion storage tanks annually
to assess maintenance and cleaning needs.
Do blow out spray nozzles with compressed
air after use.

References
Austroads. (2002) Guide to the Selection and Use of Bitumen Emulsions, Sydney
Austroads. (2014) Bituminous Materials Safety Guide, Sydney
Downer Group. (2013) Emulsion tank commissioning product sheet.
Downer Group. (2013) Emulsion tank inspection and cleaning product sheet.

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