Evaluation of the Oil Absorption Capacity and Calorific Value of High-Moor Peat from the European North of Russia

• Published in: Solid fuel chemistry 2022-10, Vol.56 (5), p.330-335
• Main Authors: Zubov, I. N., Orlov, A. S., Popov, A. N., Ponomareva, T. I., Losyuk, G. N.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Ashes; Biopolymers; Bulk density; Calorific value; Chemistry; Chemistry and Materials Science; Oil spills; Peat; Physical Chemistry; Surface activation
• ISSN: 0361-5219; 1934-8029
• DOI: 10.3103/S0361521922050123

A representative sample of high-moor peat was obtained and characterized. The surface activation of the initial peat by sequential disassembly was performed to obtain lignocarbohydrate materials that differed in composition, structure, and physicochemical properties. The oil capacity of the resulting materials was evaluated, and the thermal characteristics of the initial and kerosene-saturated samples were studied. It was found that the extraction of valuable biologically active components (bitumen and biopolymers of humic nature) led to surface activation with the retained integrity of plant residues. The subsequent treatment with acids led to significant defragmentation, an increase in bulk density, and a decrease in the oil capacity of the samples. It was shown that the low ash content and the possibility of direct utilization as fuel with a high calorific value (31.9–35.4 MJ/kg) make it possible to consider low-ash high-moor peat with a low degree of decomposition as a tool for removing local oil spills.