{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,17]],"date-time":"2026-03-17T11:34:59Z","timestamp":1773747299412,"version":"3.50.1"},"reference-count":54,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"3","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,17]],"date-time":"2026-03-17T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1773705600000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"DOI":"10.13039\/501100001871","name":"Funda\u00e7\u00e3o para a Ci\u00eancia e a Tecnologia","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","award":["UID\/6438\/2025"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["UID\/6438\/2025"]}],"id":[{"id":"10.13039\/501100001871","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"publisher"}]},{"name":"Innovation and Digital Transition Operational Programme, Portugal 2030","award":["COMPETE2030-FEDER-01191300"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["COMPETE2030-FEDER-01191300"]}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Urban Science"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Forest waste is globally abundant and holds significant potential for valorisation in various sectors. This paper investigates its use in urban road infrastructures, utilising enzymatic lignin, a by-product from forest waste bioethanol production, as a bitumen extender for warm-mix asphalt. Since this asphalt concrete is produced at about 40 \u00b0C below the traditional hot-mix asphalt temperature, this study evaluates lignin\u2019s ability to ensure the required mechanical performance of asphalt concrete in both aged and non-aged states. The TEAGE\u2014TEcnico accelerated AGEing device\u2014applied UV radiation and wet\/dry cycles to virgin bitumen, a lignin blend, and compacted asphalt concrete specimens to replicate urban weathering. Cylindrical specimens underwent indirect tensile tests to assess water sensitivity, while beam samples underwent four-point bending tests to evaluate stiffness and fatigue resistance. The results indicate that this warm-mix asphalt, with lower atmospheric emissions during manufacturing and pavement construction, meets the mechanical demands of urban roads, particularly with respect to fatigue and water resistance. However, the findings also show that asphalt concrete containing lignin experiences excessive ageing of small specimens, and further testing on compacted slabs is needed to better simulate exposure to UV radiation in pavement layers. Overall, the study concludes that lignin lowers asphalt production temperatures and partially substitutes conventional binders, with promising applications in urban pavement technologies.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/urbansci10030161","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,17]],"date-time":"2026-03-17T10:21:41Z","timestamp":1773742901000},"page":"161","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Integrating Lignin as a Bio-Based Additive in Warm-Mix Asphalt for Sustainable Urban Infrastructure"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"10","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-6615-3008","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Silvino","family":"Capit\u00e3o","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Instituto Polit\u00e9cnico de Coimbra, Instituto Superior de Engenharia de Coimbra, SusCita, 3030-199 Coimbra, Portugal"},{"name":"CERIS, Instituto Superior T\u00e9cnico, Universidade de Lisboa, 1049-001 Lisboa, Portugal"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-2072-3188","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Lu\u00eds","family":"Picado-Santos","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"CERIS, Instituto Superior T\u00e9cnico, Universidade de Lisboa, 1049-001 Lisboa, Portugal"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-5193-4896","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Arminda","family":"Almeida","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Departamento de Engenharia Civil, Universidade de Coimbra, Rua Lu\u00eds Reis Santos, 3030-788 Coimbra, Portugal"},{"name":"CITTA Centro de Investiga\u00e7\u00e3o do Territ\u00f3rio, Transportes e Ambiente, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-7279-6891","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Josu\u00e9","family":"Cardoso","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Instituto Polit\u00e9cnico de Coimbra, Instituto Superior de Engenharia de Coimbra, SusCita, 3030-199 Coimbra, Portugal"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-3646-1963","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Eliana","family":"Soldado","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Instituto Polit\u00e9cnico de Coimbra, Instituto Superior de Engenharia de Coimbra, SusCita, 3030-199 Coimbra, Portugal"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-6645-5062","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Fernando C. 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