# Effect of an Organic Rectorite on the Properties of a Waste Engine Oil-Modified Asphalt
## 1 Introduction
There have also been reports on the use of OMMT to improve the properties of WEO-modified asphalt [1]. Similar to its effects on other types of polymer-modified asphalt [27; 28], OMMT can enhance the high-temperature stability of WEO-modified asphalt while reducing its low-temperature crack resistance. However, through proper formulation design, OMMT can elevate the high-temperature stability, fatigue performance, and self-healing property of WEO-modified asphalt to levels exceeding those of the corresponding base asphalt. The literature review above confirms the vast potential of MMT and its organic modified derivatives in balancing or enhancing the overall performance of polymer-modified asphalt. Rectorite (REC), as a nanoscale layered silicate, possesses a similar interlayer structure to MMT but with a layer spacing more than twice that of MMT, and it also has a higher aspect ratio than MMT [29]. This unique structure and larger layer spacing make Rectorite an attractive material for various applications, including the modification of asphalt. [PERSON] et al. [17] selected three types of quaternary ammonium salts, namely, dodecyl trimethyl ammonium chloride (1231), lauryl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride (1227), and stearyl trimethyl ammonium chloride (1831), as organic modifiers to prepare organic rectorite (OREC) and modified asphalt. The researchers conducted a series of experiments, including hydrophilicity tests, X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), to investigate the macroscopic and microscopic properties of the modified asphalt. These studies laid the foundation for further research on the application of OREC-modified asphalt, providing valuable insights into the performance and properties of this novel asphalt modification approach. According to the research by [PERSON] et al. [30; 31], asphalt modified with organic rectorite (OREC) exhibits excellent storage stability, with a more pronounced improvement in high-temperaturestability compared to OMMT. Moreover, its adverse effects on the low-temperature crack resistance of asphalt are less significant than those observed with OMMT. Based on these findings, it can be predicted that REC and its organically modified derivatives also have the potential to enhance the overall performance of WEO-modified asphalt, primarily in terms of storage stability and high-temperature performance, thereby facilitating the efficient utilization [32; 33; 34; 35; 36] of WEO in asphalt pavements. However, as of now, there is still a lack of research on the performance of OREC + WEO composite-modified asphalt. Based on the aforementioned considerations, this study aims to replace a portion of asphalt with waste engine oil (WEO) to avoid the adverse environmental impacts of discarded engine oil. The research focuses on investigating the chemical structure, storage stability, high- and low-temperature rheological properties, and self-healing property of OREC + WEO composite-modified asphalt at different OREC content levels. The primary focus is to explore the impact of OREC on the properties of WEO-modified asphalt and recommend the appropriate dosage of OREC in WEO-modified asphalt.