## 3 Results and Discussions
### FTIR Test Results  
The FTIR test results of the BB, MMB5, and MMB10 are presented in Table 5.  
Table 5 Illustrates that all MMBs recorded higher carbonyl and sulphoxide indexes than that of BB (PG58-10). This indicates that the stiffness behavior and aging potential of BB has-been improved with the addition of molasses.  
The FTIR spectroscopy test results are also elaborated on in Figure 4. The figure illustrates that the observed absorbance peaks for M and BB are similar. This could be an indication that there were no significant variations between the functional groups, even if a dehydration chemical reaction took place during the mix of molasses with the control binder BB. In the case of MMB5 and MMB10, peak functional groups between wavenumbers 3550 cm\({}^{-1}\) and 3425 cm\({}^{-1}\) (Alcohol) disappeared. This indicates that the alcohol has reacted with oxygen at a high temperature during the preparation of the MMBs. Those around wave number 750 cm\({}^{-1}\) (Aromamins) were  
\begin{table}
\begin{tabular}{l c c c c} \hline \hline
**Index** & **BB** & **Molasses** & **MMB5** & **MMB10** \\ \hline \(I_{C=O}\) & 0.0059 & 0.0068 & 0.0062 & 0.0067 \\ \(I_{S=O}\) & 0.0011 & 0.0029 & 0.0013 & 0.0013 \\ \hline \hline \end{tabular}
\end{table}
Table 5: Index from Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) test for Bitumen binders (BB), MMB5, and MMB10.  
primary alcohol was oxidized to an Aldehyde, the O-H (Hydroxyl) bonds in the alcohol were replaced by the C=O bond in the Aldehyde. The functional groups determined using the FTIR test, carried out on three replicate specimens, and are presented in Table 6.  
\begin{table}
\begin{tabular}{c c c c c c c} \hline \hline
**Asphalt** & **Region** &
\begin{tabular}{c} **Wave Number** \\ **(cm\({}^{-1}\))** \\ \end{tabular} & **Functional Group** & & **Intensity** & **Signal** \\ \hline \multirow{8}{*}{BB} & & 3600–3300 & O-H stretching & Alcohol & Strong & Broad \\  & Diagnostic or & 3000–2840 & C-H Stretching & Alkanet & Strong & Broad \\  & functional group & 2800–2750 & C-H Bend & Aldehyde & Weak & Sharp \\  & region (FGR) & 2720–2700 & C-H Stretching & Aldehyde & Weak & Sharp \\  & & 1680–1600 & C-C Stretching & Alkene & Medium & Sharp \\ \cline{2-6}  & & 1470–1450 & C-H Bend & Alkane & Strong & Sharp \\  & Finger print & 1365–1350 & C-H Bend & Alkane & Strong & Sharp \\  & region (FPR) & 1300–1260 & C-N Bend & Aromamins & Weak & Sharp \\  & & 775–725 & C-H Bend & Aromatic & Medium & Sharp \\ \hline \multirow{8}{*}{M} & & 3600–3300 & O-H stretching & Alcohol & Strong & Broad \\  & FGR & 3000–2840 & C-H Stretching & Alkane & Strong & Broad \\  & & 1680–1600 & C=C Stretching & Alkene & Weak & Board \\ \cline{2-6}  & & 1470–1450 & C-H Bend & Alkane & Strong & Sharp \\  & FPR & 1365–1350 & C-H Bend & Alkane & Strong & Sharp \\  & & 775–725 & C-H Bend & Aromatic & Weak & Sharp \\ \hline \multirow{4}{*}{MMB5} & & 2990–2940 & C-H Stretching & Alkane & Strong & Sharp \\  & & 2925–2875 & C-H Stretching & Alkane & Strong & Sharp \\ \cline{2-6}  & & 1425–1375 & C-H Bend & Alkane & Strong & Sharp \\  & FPR & 1350–1320 & C-H Bend & Alkane & Strong & Sharp \\  & & 775–725 & C-H Bend & Aromatic & Weak & Sharp \\ \hline \multirow{2}{*}{MMB10} & & FGR & 2960–2875 & C-H Stretching & Aldehyde & Strong & Broad \\ \cline{2-6}  & FPR & 1450–1400 & C-H Bend & Alkane & Medium & Sharp \\ \hline \hline \end{tabular}
\end{table}
Table 6: Functional groups identified for Molasses (M), Bitumen binders (BB), and molasses modified binders (MMB).  
Figure 4: Spectra of un-aged Bitumen binders (BB), M, MMB5, and MMB10.