Chemical composition and distribution of the components of valley peat from Amur oblast

The chemical composition of sedge peat from the Egor’evskoe deposit as lowland peat from Amur oblast was characterized. The elemental composition of organic matter and mineral macro- and microcomponents was studied, and the distribution of bitumens, their fractions, and humic acids in the depth of occurrence was revealed. It was found that peat genesis processes occur over the entire vertical profile, and the most converted organic matter is formed at a depth of to 90 cm. The individual composition of alkane fractions consists of C₁₃–C₃₆ normal structure homologues with a carbon preference index somewhat higher than unity; the presence of pristane, phytane, and farnezane was detected. In the fractions of fatty acids, predominantly even compounds from C₁₀ to C₃₀ were identified with special distribution features at the separate stages of peat formation. The analysis of the individual composition of n-alkanes and fatty acids made it possible to supplement botanical characteristics with information on the contribution of macrophytes, algal material, and microorganisms to the formation of the organic matter of peat.     

Occurrence and significance of humic acids in ancient sediments

Under mild conditions humic acids persist in ancient sediments (up to 70% of the total organic matter). In most samples studied, there is a relation between humic acids and associated kerogens, and this is a possible way to obtain more information on the structure of kerogens. The occurrence of humic compounds characterizes the immature stage; they rapidly disappear with natural evolution, hence the humic content would be an interesting marker of evolution during the immature stage. Moreover these compounds may be compared with humic acids occurring in recent deposits; thus they are a valuable source of information about the original organic matter and deposit media.     

Formation of the Organic Matter of High-Moor Peat under Conditions of the European North of Russia

The key role of oxidation processes in the humification of peat-forming plant components was experimentally confirmed. A number of characteristic properties of the transformation of organic matter under conditions of the North, in particular, a decrease in the depth of humification and the pronounced predominance of the fulvate type of humification was revealed. It was established that special climatic effects are a factor affecting the formation of the group chemical composition of peat. It was demonstrated that, under the conditions of northern territories with consideration for the frost zone of a peat deposit, the conditions of oxidation and the kinetics of humification processes in the organic matter of peat in top and bottom layers can be essentially different; this fact explained the nonmonotonic changes in the characteristics of peat with the depth of occurrence. The effect of the bituminous component on the humification process of organic matter in the course of peat deposition was found; this was primarily due to the inhibition of the formation of polyconjugated structures, which are the main structure factor of humic substances.     

使用草酸作为沉淀剂提高腐植酸品质

用有机溶剂对冷冻干燥的泥炭样品进行索氏提取和使用有机酸使腐植酸沉淀的两种纯化腐植酸的方法已经被探讨。用有机溶剂萃取,能够有效去除可溶性有机杂质（高达12％）,而对腐植质没有明显损失和改性。使用有机酸为沉淀剂是为了脱除腐植酸中的卤素和无机酸。本文比较了用上述方法获得腐植酸与用传统方法盐酸沉淀获得腐植酸。     

雨养沼泽泥炭腐植酸的性质和结构

腐植酸类物质是土壤、泥炭和自然水体中有机物的主要成分,其来源不同,结构和性质也不同。本研究阐述了雨养沼泽泥炭腐植酸的性质,评估了泥炭剖面内腐植酸的均质性,并研究了泥炭腐殖化程度对腐植酸性能的影响。结果表明,以不同来源的苔藓为主的雨养沼泽植物对泥炭腐植酸结构的影响较大。泥炭腐植酸的成岩作用程度介于活有机体和煤炭之间,当碳水化合物、氨基酸等被破坏后,耐分解的芳烃和多环芳烃结构出现,泥炭腐植酸的结构趋于形成。然而,与土壤、水体和其他腐植酸相比,泥炭腐植酸的芳香性较低。相对而言,雨养沼泽泥炭腐植酸处于活有机体向成岩转化过程的初始阶段。羧基和酚羟基含量的变化取决于提取腐植酸的泥炭年龄和分解程度,羧酸酸度随泥炭深度和腐殖化程度增加而增大。     

有机氮肥对马来西亚沙捞越州酸性土壤玉米干物质产量及铵态氮和硝态氮含量的影响

腐殖质中的腐植酸和黄腐酸可以提高土壤中可交换性铵（NH4＋）的回收率。这两种酸固定和保持NH4＋的能力已经在许多研究中得到了证实,二者通过提高植株的光合作用速率、促进根系发育影响植物的生长和养分吸收。因此,本研究调查了这两种酸（液态）对玉米干物质产量、土壤铵态氮和硝态氮（NO3-）含量的影响。根据液态有机氮肥的组成,采用标准方法分离提纯腐植酸。有机氮肥在玉米种植后第10天、第28天分别施入盆栽土壤,然后在种植后第54天或孕穗期采集植株和土壤样品。土壤样品分析PH、铵态氮和硝态氮含量,植株样品测定干物质产量。结果表明,在酸性条件下,液态有机氮肥（黄腐酸、腐植酸或二者同时施用）的施用可以提高土壤中NH4＋的累积量。随土壤活性碳储量的增加,腐植酸分子上羧基官能团对土壤NH4＋的吸附能力增强。然而,酸含量较低时对干物质产量的影响明显减小。各处理间硝态氮的有效性没有达到统计上的差异显著水平。较低的PH值能抑制土壤硝化作用进程,同时降低土壤NO3-含量。这表明液态腐植酸和／或黄腐酸在提高尿素利用效率方面发挥着重要作用。然而,与腐植酸分子特性有关的作用机理还需要进一步详细研究。本研究为液态和叶面有机肥料的发展提供一定的依据。     

Flocculation of Clay Suspensions in the Presence of Humic and Fulvic Acids

Surface waters which contain suspended clay and organic matter, differ strongly in response to flocculation from suspensions of “pure” reference clays in controlled systems. The mechanism of interference was investigated by means of a synthetic system, consisting of suspensions of reference clay with humic and fulvic acid added. These organic soil acids increase the colloidal stability of the suspension. Due to chemical reaction taking place between the organic acids and the cationic flocculant, higher flocculant doses were required in systems where interaction of clay and organic matter occurred.     

Characterization of the Organic Matter of Humic Acids by Pyrolytic Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry

The results of the pyrolytic analysis of products of the organic matter of Sphagnum fuscum, fuscum peat, and humic acids separated from peat with the use of pyrolysis–chromatography–mass spectrometry in the Rock-Eval version are presented. It was shown that Sphagnum fuscum and peat differed only slightly in the degrees of chemical transformation. Benzene, phenol, and their alkyl-substituted homologues predominated in the thermal desorption products of humic acids upon pyrolysis to 400°C. Acetic acid, monohydric phenols, syringol, and guaiacol, which are the basic compounds in the high-temperature fraction, were formed on the pyrolysis humic acids to 700°C from the carbohydrate, phenylpropionic, and guaiacylpropane structural fragments.     

Isolation and characterization of humic acids from Alberta oil sands and related materials

Thirteen humic acid samples were isolated from a number of oil sand feedstocks using 0.5 N NaOH or a mixture of 0.1 N NaOH + 0.1 M Na₄P₂O₇. The feedstocks included three different grades of Athabasca oil sand, two samples of overburden, a sample of centrifuge tailings from the Syncrude Canada Ltd plant in Alberta and a heavy minerals fraction from oil sand tailings containing adsorbed organic matter. Based on the extraction efficiency of the two solvents it appears that the humic acids from oil sand and overburden feedstocks are strongly associated with calcium, while the humic acids from other feedstocks could be bound to non-silicate aluminum and/or iron. Comparison of analytical data for the various humic acid samples with corresponding data for humic acids from subbituminous coal, peat, soil and asphaltenes from bituminous feedstock, shows the similarity of these humic acids to those from subbituminous coal. Examination of the elemental analyses in terms of a van Krevelen diagram shows that most of the data either overlap or fall directly in the region of the recent and shallow kerogens. This kind of organic matter has very little potential for oil production, suggesting that the origin of this organic matter could be different from that of the greater part of the bitumen of the Athabasca oil sands.     

Changes in the composition of humic substances depending on the depth of peat occurrence

The fractional group composition of humic substances and the chemical structure of humic acids isolated from peats of different genesis from different depths of occurrence in peat deposits with the use of two extractants (0.1 N NaOH and 0.1 M Na₄P₂O₇ at pH 7) were studied. Peat from the upper aerated layer of the peat deposits contained more humic substances than peat from the deep layer, which occurred under anaerobic conditions, due to the pyrophosphate fraction of humic acids and fulvic acids. The humic acids of peat isolated from the deep layers of deposits had smaller molecular weights, and they were characterized by lower concentrations of carbohydrate and saturated hydrocarbon fragments and an increased contribution of aromatic polyconjugation systems, as compared with the humic acids of a surface layer.     

Use of peat for the manufacture of products based on humic acids

The results of studies on the development of the following peat preparations for different purposes are represented: concentrated liquid humic fertilizers with trace elements, humic dyes for wood, textiles, and leather, a rust solvent, a leaching reagent for the production of rare and nonferrous metals, and a peat preparation for phytoextraction in the cleaning of territories contaminated by heavy metals.     

Photocatalytic degradation of humic acid in the presence of montmorillonite

Humic acids (HA) representing the major fraction of the naturally occurring humic substances (HS) are composed of highly functionalized carbon rich polydisperse organic fractions. Clay minerals which are responsible for the transport of inorganic and organic contaminants constitute the main component of the dispersed inorganic material in natural waters. The understanding of interactions between humic substances and clay minerals is an important task for the achievement of an effective water treatment performance. The aim of this research was to investigate the influence of montmorillonite as a representative clay mineral on the TiO₂ photocatalytic removal of humic acids as the model compound of natural organic matter. The interactions prevailing between humic acid, montmorillonite and TiO₂ surface were assessed prior to the application of photocatalysis in order to address the adsorptive and photolytic behavior of humic acids. The changes attained in humic acid were described by UV–vis spectroscopic i.e. color forming moieties (Color₄₃₆) and UV absorbing centers (UV₃₆₅ and UV₂₅₄), and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) contents. Application of the pseudo first order kinetic model revealed both an enhancement and retardation with respect to the applied montmorillonite dose. The overall effect of montmorillonite on the photocatalytic degradation of humic acid was also evaluated in terms of molecular size distribution profiles (0.45 μm filtered fraction, 100 kDa fraction, 30 kDa fraction and 3 kDa fraction) described by the specified and DOC normalized specific UV–vis parameters.     

Influence of weathering process on the flotation response of coal

The floatability of a Spanish coal from a seam (Adolfa) which is simultaneously surface mined (ASM) and underground mined (AUM) has been studied. The mineral composition of AUM and ASM coal samples, as well as changes in both mineral and organic constituents due to chemical weathering, were characterized by X-ray diffraction, i.r. and Mössbauer spectroscopies and X-ray fluorescence spectrometry. The effect of pH and surface charge on the floatability of AUM and ASM samples was investigated. The formation of humic substances in the surface of ASM coal and the presence of Fe(III) species in its mineral matter, both a consequence of weathering, together with the high content of mineral impurities (especially aluminosilicates) provide an explanation for the flotation behaviour of this coal. Basic pHs that led to humic acids dissolution and to iron(III) hydroxide precipitate desorption from the surface improved ASM coal floatability up to values similar to those obtained with unoxidized AUM coal. The formation of humic acids-mineral impurities complexes at basic pHs renders clay particles hydrophobic. As a consequence, the improvement of ASM coal floatability at pHs higher than neutral was accompanied by a low ash rejection. Mineral impurities had a large influence on the surface charge of ASM coal.     

Bromination of humic acids of different origin

Data on the introduction of bromine atoms into the structure of humic acids isolated from the peat of Tver oblast and the brown coal of the Moscow Basin were generalized, and a comparative analysis of relevant methods was performed. It was shown that the test humic acids are similar in terms of structural parameters and demonstrate similar behaviors in the processes of bromination and hydrobromination. The dependences of the structural parameters of bromine-containing humic preparations on the mass fraction of bromine in them were obtained; correlations between the yields of humic preparations from the peat and the brown coal in the course of modifications were found; and the possible reaction paths of the bromination and hydrobromination processes were discussed. The biological activity of the bromine-containing humic preparations was tested, and its direct dependence on the mass fractions of bromine and phenolic hydroxyls in the humic preparations was found. It was shown that the modification of peat humic acids by hydrobromination is preferable for the production of biologically active humic preparations.     

Identification of peat and leonardite using humification parameters and Isoelectric focusing (IEF): A first approach

Several samples of peat and leonardite (organic fossil material of vegetable origin) and of humic extracts from peat and leonardite were characterized using some humification parameters and isoelectric focusing (IEF). The HA/TOC and the humification rate (HR) show values lower than 60% for peat and higher than 70% for leonardite samples. These two parameters are useful to distinguish peat from leonardite, but unable to identify the organic materials in the humic extracts. Peat an leonardite samples and their humic extracts were characterized using IEF and evaluating the quantitative distribution of the bands of the profile. The group of bands in the range from pH 4.8 to 5.5 (region C) is characteristics in all samples. In particular, the relative area is less than 55% for peat and humic extracts from peat and higher than 60% for leonardite and humic extracts from leonadite.     

The blending of rockstone clay with peat for the production of sanitaryware in Guyana

The objective of this research is to improve the casting properties of Rockstone clay of Guyana in order to make it suitable for sanitaryware production. The clay is kaolinitic, has low plasticity, low modulus of rupture and is void of organic matter. Blending the clay with different amounts of peat can increase its plasticity and modulus of rupture by over 100%. Improved casting, draining, fettling and trimming properties are achieved with no fired color degradation. There is a slight increase in the fired shrinkage. With the addition of peat to Rockstone clay, sanitaryware products are successfully casted and fired on a laboratory scale.     

Does pyrite oxidation contribute to the acidification of tropical peat? A case studyin a peat swamp forestin Central Kalimantan,Indonesia

The chemical properties of peat pore water in the basin of the Sebangau River and Lahei district, Central Kalimantan, Indonesia, were studied. We analyzed major ions, pH, electrical conductivity (EC) and redox potential (Eh) of the peat pore water with reference to their vertical profile. We evaluated the contribution of sulfates to the acidi.cation of peat by including data from Furen mire, eastern Hokkaido, Japan. The coastal peat of Furen mire and the peat in Paduran in the lower basin of the Sebangau River included extraordinarily high concentrations of sulfates (> 1000 mg/l) compared to the peat in the middle and upper basins of the river (< 10 mg/l). High concentrations of sulfates, however, did not lead to a low pH for the peat. The present findings suggest that the acidification of the peat pore water is subject to the production of organic acids originating from peat decomposition, rather than the production of sulfuric acid produced by pyrite oxidation in the underlying mineral sediments.     

泥炭对重金属废水中Cu^2＋、Pb^2＋最佳吸附条件的研究

泥炭中富含有机质与腐植酸,其中含有大量的极性基团,对金属离子有较强的吸附性能。本试验通过对泥炭吸附重金属废水中Cu^2＋、Pb^2＋种离子的吸附条件进行研究,得出最佳吸附条件为：当重金属离子浓度为30mg／L时,泥炭投加量分别为7g／L和5g／L,最佳吸附pH值分别为5和8,吸附时间均为30min．且离子浓度越高,表观吸附量越大,但除金属率越低。最佳条件下Cu^2＋、Pb^2＋的表观吸附量分别为4．24mg／g和6．00mg／g,除铜率和除铅率分别为98．8％和999％。     

Comparison of five humic acids

The ultimate analyses, u.v-visible absorption spectra, fluorescence spectra and i.r. spectra of five humic acids have been studied. One was obtained commercially from peat, two from organic-rich soils, one from an estuary and one from a marine sediment. The u.v. spectra were used to compare average molecular weights which varied from 800 to 7000 and increased with the atomic $\text{H}\text{C}$ ratio. Fluorescence appeared to be due to poly-nuclear aromatic structures. All the humic acids showed maximum excitation at 360 nm and developed maximum emission in the range 430–455 nm but the humic acids from sediments showed an additional emission maximum at ~410 nm. Fluorescence from the peat humic acid was broad and secondary emission was observed with a maximum at 520 nm which was attributed to the formation of excimers. Fluorescence has been used to monitor the interaction of cations with humic acids in solutions of different ionic strengths which shows promise for distinguishing between metat—humate complex formation and the coagulation of a colloid. The structures of the humic acids are discussed in terms of the structures possessed by lignites.     

Distribution of inorganic and organic substances in the hydrocyclone separated Slovak sub-bituminous coal

A low-rank Slovak sub-bituminous coal from the Handlová deposit was physically treated by washing in a water-only cyclone with the goal to find the separation effect for inorganic (mainly Fe-bearing minerals) and organic substances (humic acids, diterpanes). A high-quality coal product with the ash content in the dry matter of 9.02% and carbon content of C^d = 68.12% at a mass yield of 29.51% was obtained using the water-only cyclone processing. At first, the physically treated coal samples were detailed characterized by XRD, ⁵⁷Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy, FT-IR and HR-TEM. In addition to non-crystalline organic coal components, inorganic compounds belonging to silicate minerals (kaolinite, muscovite and quartz) as well as to Fe-bearing sulphide minerals (pyrite) were identified in the sub-bituminous coal by XRD. ⁵⁷Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy detected the presence of iron carbonate (siderite), iron-containing clay mineral and two sulphur-containing minerals (pyrite, jarosite) in the untreated coal. On the other hand, only one Fe-bearing mineral, (pyrite) was found in the washed coal. Effect of the physical separation is also demonstrated in FT-IR spectra, where the peak at 1040 cm⁻¹ representing the silicate component in the untreated sample is not detectable in the washed coal sample. Presence of extractive organic substances, i.e. humic acids and tetracyclic diterpane (16α(H)-phyllocladane), in the hydrocyclone products is also evidenced. It was confirmed that the isolated diterpenoic compound is attendant in the washed product with the lowest ash content and it is assimilated with the organic part of coal. Surprisingly, humic acids were found in the highest concentration in the slurry that has the highest content of ash (63.14%).