This document describes a test method for the recovery of soluble bitumen from bituminous mixtures used in road, airfield or similar pavements in a form suitable for further testing. The test can be undertaken on either loose or compacted asphalt materials. The procedure is only suitable for the recovery of paving grade bitumens, for which materials this European Standard is the reference method. The fractionating column procedure (see EN 12697-4) is the reference method for mixtures containing volatile matter such as cut-back bitumen. NOTE For recovery of polymer modified bitumens the rotary evaporator is recommended.