Abstract
The biodegradation of different peat types was studied with a manometric respirometric test. Compaction peat and sphagnum peat samples were analysed, and the effect of peat pH on biodegradation behaviour was evaluated. Only minor (BOD/ThOD < 0.4%) biodegradation was observed with compaction peat samples, and the stable state, in which biodegradation stopped, was achieved during a two month period. As expected, sphagnum peat samples with a lower decomposition rate degraded more than compaction peat samples. Alkalinity (pH between ca. 4–9) of the peat was noticed to reduce the degree of biodegradation and accelerate the achievement of the stable state.
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Acknowledgements
The authors would like to thank Suomen Ympäristöpalvelu Ltd. and especially MSc. Ilkka Välimäki for the chemical analyses, Mrs. Hanna Prokkola for the help during the biodegradation measurements as well as Mr. Ilkka Ilmavirta from Vapo Oy for helpful discussions concerning peat products and PhD Jaakko Rämö for helpful discussions concerning BOD studies. Thanks also to MSc. Ilari Sohlo for text-editing the English.
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Roppola, K., Kuokkanen, T., Kujala, K. et al. Utilization Potential of Peats – a Study on Peat Biodegradability Determined by Respirometric Method. Water Air Soil Pollut 192, 59–66 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-008-9634-y
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-008-9634-y