Peat and products based on it are often used in agriculture and agrochemistry. Peat components can process organic ecotoxicants and heavy metal ions in the soil, and are also used in medicine and veterinary medicine. Ecologists of the Perm Polytechnic University have developed a humic preparation based on it, having determined the most effective composition, reports press service of the university.
The development will allow to restore the soil from spills of oil products and other hazardous substances. The work was carried out within the framework of the Strategic Academic Leadership Program "Priority 2030".
According to scientists, the technology will allow replacing imported humic preparations.
The developers published the results of the study in the collection materials of the All-Russian scientific and practical conference with international participation “Chemistry. Ecology. Urbanism" (2022).
Peat is formed as a result of the decomposition of microorganisms and plants at high humidity and without oxygen. It is a renewable natural resource. It is based on the remains of plants - solid macromolecular compounds of cellulose nature, as well as their decay products and lignin. The composition of peat may differ depending on its type, botanical composition and degree of decomposition. It contains macronutrients, trace elements and minerals.
- Peat also contains humic compounds, which are divided into humic acids and pro-humic substances. Humic acids include humic and fulvic acids, which have unique properties. The first of them are capable of destroying organic ecotoxicants and heavy metal ions of oil in the soil. They absorb pollutants and "turn" them into humus, making them safe. Therefore, peat is used to obtain humic preparations, fertilizers, sorbents, ameliorants and plant growth biostimulants, - says Anna Arduanova, one of the developers, a graduate student at the Environmental Protection Department of the Perm Polytechnic University.
— We received a humic preparation based on peat samples of various degrees of decomposition and composition from the Oster deposit in the Smolensk region. To do this, we analyzed the properties of peat according to the main indicators, and then treated the peat with alkali solutions. We studied the properties of the obtained preparations in terms of pH of the aqueous extract, density, humidity, ash content, mass fraction of dry and organic matter, the content of humic substances, fulvic acids and nitrogen content, - explains the supervisor of the researcher, professor of the Department of Environmental Protection of the Perm Polytechnic University, Doctor of Technical Sciences Irina Glushankova.
The researchers found that the most effective way to create preparations is to use samples of low-lying peat with a high degree of decomposition. They found the highest content of humic substances in them.
Scientists have studied the physicochemical properties of the drug and found that they are comparable to industrial designs. It can be used in agriculture to improve soil conditions and solve environmental problems. The development also has a high content of fulvic acids, so it can be used to develop drugs for use in medicine and veterinary medicine.