The　thermal-oxidative　aging　of　asphalt　is　extensively　researched　in　recent　years.　However,　the　aging　behavior　of　asphalt　in　salt　and　water　environment　receives　less　attention.　A　virgin　asphalt　binder　was　treated　by　various　coupling　conditions　of　salt　and　water　in　this　work　aiming　at　understanding　the　aging　behaviors,　and　then　the　physical　indexes,　rheological　parameters,　chemical　structures,　four　fractions　and　contact　angles　of　asphalt　before　and　after　aging　were　measured　to　evaluated　the　effects　of　different　aging　environments　on　the　physicochemical　properties　of　asphalt.　Results　indicate　that　the　aged　asphalt　has　higher　softening　point　and　complex　modulus　while　lower　penetration　and　phase　angle　in　comparison　with　unaged　asphalt,　implying　the　asphalt　becomes　harder　and　more　brittle　after　aging.　Although　asphalt　aged　in　salt　and　water　conditions　exhibits　similar　changes　in　macro-properties　to　thermal-oxidative　aged　asphalt,　the　analysis　of　chemical　composition　indicates　that　the　aging　of　asphalt　under　salt　and　water　environment　is　caused　by　unique　inducements,　which　can　be　divided　into　two　parts,　that　is,　separating　out　of　aromatics　and　saturates　from　asphalt　by　combined　action　of　salt　out　and　emulsification,　and　increasing　of　asphaltenes　and　resins　caused　by　oxidation.　These　two　factors　work　together　leading　to　the　change　of　colloidal　structure　and　finally　cause　the　deteriorate　of　macro-properties.　Besides,　the　results　of　contact　angle　test　indicate　the　increasing　polar　functional　groups　resulting　from　aging　enhance　hydrophily　of　asphalt　and　increase　the　possibility　of　water　to　enter　the　interior　of　asphalt,　exacerbating　the　performance　degradation　of　asphalt.　©　2024　Elsevier　Ltd