The Utilization of Agriculturally Derived Lignin as an Antioxidant in Asphalt Binder, TR-557, 2008

Oxidation is the primary cause of long-term aging in asphalt pavements. As a pavement oxidizes, it stiffens and can eventually crack. The use of an antioxidant as a performance enhancer in an asphalt binder could delay aging, thus increasing the life of an asphalt pavement. Lignin is a highly available and well-studied antioxidant. A wet-mill ethanol plant produces several co-products, some of which contain lignin. The use of lignin from ethanol production could provide a benefit to asphalt pavements and also give more value to the co-products. The following research examined the effects of lignin on asphalt pavements. Three lignin-containing co-products were separately combined with four asphalt binders in varying amounts to determine the optimum amount of co-product that would provide the greatest benefit to the asphalt binders. The asphalt binder and co-product blends were evaluated according to Superpave specifications and performance graded on a continuous scale. The data indicated a stiffening effect on the binder caused by the addition of the co-products. The more a co-product was added, the more a binder stiffened. Binder stiffening benefited the high temperature properties and the low temperature binder properties were negatively affected. However, the low temperature stiffening effects were small and in many cases not significant. The co-products had an overall effect of widening the temperature range of the binders. This result suggests some antioxidant activity between the binder and the lignin. Testing with a fourth co-product with no lignin supported the idea that lignin acts as an antioxidant. The samples with no lignin aged significantly more than the samples with lignin. Infrared spectrometry also supported the idea that lignin acts as an antioxidant by observing decreases in some oxidative aging products.

Expanding Combined Heat and Power in Iowa, October 2015

Combined Heat and Power (CHP) refers to the onsite production of electricity and thermal energy from the same fuel source. Integrating power and thermal energy production is more efficient than separate generating systems and used in the right situation can yield several benefits.

Combined Heat and Power Resource Guide, December 2015

Combined Heat and Power (CHP) refers to the onsite production of electricity and thermal energy from the same fuel source. Integrating power and thermal energy production is more efficient than separate generating systems and used in the right situation can yield several benefits.

Financial Power of Attorney

A financial power of attorney (FPOA) is a document authorizing someone else (an agent) to manage your finances on your behalf if you (the principal) become incapacitated and are unable to make financial management decisions for yourself. If you become unable to decide for yourself and you have not prepared a financial power of attorney, a court proceeding will likely be required before a loved one will be able to assume authority over at least some of your financial affairs. Your FPOA can be drafted to go into effect as soon as you sign it or it can become effective at a later date or only in the case that a physician certifies that you have become incapacitated.

Healthcare Power of Attorney

A health care power of attorney (HC-POA) is a document authorizing an attorney-in-fact (your designated agent) to make health care decisions on your behalf if you (the principal) are unable, in the judgment of your attending physician, to make health care decisions. Health care is defined as any care, treatment, service or procedure required to maintain, diagnose or treat a physical or mental condition. Through your HC-POA, you may authorize someone else to consent, refuse or withdraw consent to health care on your behalf. The attorney-in-fact is permitted to make only health care-related decisions on your behalf. In exercising this authority, the attorney-in-fact must act consistently with your desires (as stated in the HC-POA document).

Health Care Power of Attorney FAQs

A health care power of attorney (HC-POA) is a document authorizing an attorney-in-fact (your designated agent) to make health care decisions on your behalf if you (the principal) are unable, in the judgment of your attending physician, to make health care decisions. Health care is defined as any care, treatment, service or procedure required to maintain, diagnose or treat a physical or mental condition. Through your HC-POA, you may authorize someone else to consent, refuse or withdraw consent to health care on your behalf.