Asphalt from cashew shells – level 3

Asphalt from cashew shells

05-11-2024 15:00

Frankfurt Airport is testing a sustainable asphalt concrete made from cashew shells, aiming for zero carbon emissions by 2045.

This eco-friendly asphalt, created by the German startup B2 Square, uses bio-bitumen to replace traditional bitumen, which usually comes from crude oil. To make bio-bitumen, B2 Square combines a natural hydrocarbon resin with an organic extract from cashew shells. This mixture improves the quality of the asphalt, as it is less affected by the usual variations in bitumen from crude oil. Project manager Axel Conrad notes that the organic bitumen also supports carbon neutrality, storing around 34,400 pounds of CO2 per 2,200 pounds of bitumen.

The bio-asphalt is reportedly ten times more durable than regular asphalt. To test its performance, Frankfurt Airport paved a 200-meter road with bio-asphalt on one side and traditional asphalt on the other. If successful, bio-asphalt will be used more widely as part of the airport’s sustainability goals.

Difficult words: asphalt (material used for constructing roads), bitumen (a sticky black material used in road constructions), resin (a sticky substance from plants or trees).

You can watch the video news lower on this page.

What is the process of creating bio-bitumen as described by the German startup B2 Square and how does it contribute to carbon neutrality?

LEARN 3000 WORDS with NEWS IN LEVELS

News in Levels is designed to teach you 3000 words in English. Please follow the instructions
below.

How to improve your English with News in Levels: 

Test

  1. Do the test at Test Languages.
  2. Go to your level. Go to Level 1 if you know 1-1000 words. Go to Level 2 if you know 1000-2000 words. Go to Level 3 if you know 2000-3000 words.

Reading

  1. Read two news articles every day.
  2. Read the news articles from the day before and check if you remember all new words.

Listening

  1. Listen to the news from today and read the text at the same time.
  2. Listen to the news from today without reading the text.

Writing

  1. Answer the question under today’s news and write the answer in the comments.

Speaking

  1. Choose one person from the Skype section.
  2. Talk with this person. You can answer questions from Speak in Levels.

 

Stock images by Depositphotos