Peat productivity

Litter peat is the surface peat removed from the bog before cutting of fuel peat. As fuel peat production increases, so the amount surface peat removed also grows. Around 1 million m3 of surface peat is lifted every year in Finland, and the figure is expected to rise to 2-3 million m3 a year by the 1990 (1). Surface peat is used mainly for horticultural purposes. 

Three peat samples (2 m each) were taken at two peat production areas in Finland, namely Kailasuo and Piipsanneva. They were homogenised and prepared as pieces of different density and diameter with laboratory-scale machines. Peat properties are shown in Table 3. Aho classified the peat into three groups with respect to degree of decomposition of chemical structure. The peat types were denoted by S for low decomposition degree, C for medium and LS for high degree of decomposition. 

Energy usage between 1996 and 1999 energy usage increased from 1200 GWh to 1500 GWh. The split between oil, coal, gas, renewable fuel, electricity, peat, production waste and others is also reported in the form of pie charts. 

KAPHXHAnsnrB, oxidation of, 67. Nitric add from peat, production of, 80. 

While 80% of Bord na Mona s fuel peat production goes to electricity generation, a further 20% is used in the production of peat briquettes, demand for which has remained strong. Output of the original peat briquette factory in County Kildare was expanded in the late 1940s and additional briquette factories were built at Counties Offaly and Westmeath in 1958 (Fig. 25.9). In addition, two bogs with a particularly... 

The chemical characteristics of biomass vary over a broad range because of the many different types of species. Table 8 compares the typical analyses and energy contents of land- and water-based biomass, ie, wood, grass, kelp, and water hyacinth, and waste biomass, ie, manure, urban refuse, and primary sewage sludge, with those of cellulose, peat, and bituminous coal. Pure cellulose, a representative primary photosynthetic product, has a carbon content of... 

Ref 4. Diamond production is 107,771,000 carats (21.6 t). Fuel products such as natural gas, peat, petroleum, etc, are not included. ... 

Whole grains means grains of cereals from which no part has been intentionally removed. The unique taste characteristics and smokey flavor of Scotch is developed from peat used in the whisky production process. The character and amount of peat used in malting the barley have a critical affect on the flavor intensity of the final product. The aroma of the burning peat is absorbed by the barley malt and is carried through the distillation process. 

Irish Whiskey. Irish whiskeys are blends of grain and malt spirits three or more years of age that are produced in either the RepubHc of Ireland or Northern Ireland and comply with the respective laws regulating their manufacture. Since no peat is used in the malting process, Irish whiskey lacks the smokey character of Scotch. In the manufacturing process, the malt is soaked in water and milled to produce the wort. The fermentation usually takes about 60 hours. The first distillation in a pot stiU yields a 22—23% alcohol product. A second pot stiU distiUation produces a product that is 45—46% alcohol. This is foUowed by a third distiUation in another pot stiU to yield the Irish whiskey of about 68—70% alcohol. 

In contrast, composting processes utilize a mixture of solids and yard waste under controlled environmental conditions to produce a disinfected, humus-like product. Three common composting systems are a horizontal agitated reactor, a horizontal nonagitated reactor, and an aerated static pile system (nonproprietary). Compost can be marketed as a soil conditioner in competition with such products as peat, soil, and mulch. Although a large potential market exists, significant effort is required to penetrate this market. Yard waste revenue of 6.50/m (S5/yd ) and product revenue of 2.00/m ( 1.50/yd ) appear to be reasonable market values based on various studies reported on the Web. 

Fuel. Wood, paper, coal, and gas are just a few of tlie products commonly tliought of as fuels. However, from a chemical standpoint, tlie conunon fuel elements are carbon (C) and hydrogen (H). Carbon is found in coal, coke, lignite, and peat. Otlier carbon fuels include fat, petroleum, and natural gas. Hydrogen is conunonly found in conjunction witli tliese carbon compounds. 

The British Non-Ferrous Metals Research Association carried out two series of tests, the results of which have been given by Gilbert and Gilbert and Porter these are summarised in Table 4.12. In the first series tough pitch copper tubes were exposed at seven sites for periods of up to 10 years. The two most corrosive soils were a wet acid peat (pH 4-2) and a moist acid clay (pH 4-6). In these two soils there was no evidence that the rate of corrosion was decreasing with duration of exposure. In the second series phosphorus-deoxidised copper tube and sheet was exposed at five sites for five years. Severe corrosion occurred only in cinders (pH 7 1). In these tests sulphides were found in the corrosion products on some specimens and the presence of sulphate-reducing bacteria at some sites was proved. It is not clear, however, to what extent the activity of these bacteria is a factor accelerating corrosion of copper. 

Peat, Schluchterer and Stacey6 later obtained a small amount (0.23%) of methyl 2,3,4,6-tetramethyl-n-glucoside from the hydrolytic products of a methylated L. dextranicum dextran, in addition to 90% methyl 2,3,4-trimethyl-D-glucosides, and on the basis of these results, postulated a minimum chain length of 550 units for this dextran. An appreciable amount of methyl dimethyl-D-glucosides was obtained, but these may not indicate side chain linkages since a mixture of dimethyl isomers was present, and the dextran was not fully methylated (only 44.5% methoxyl rather than 45.6%). 

Tsutsuki, K., Kondo, R. and Shiraishi, H. (1993). Composition of lignin-degradation products, lipids and opal phytoliths in a peat profile accumulated since 32,000 years B.P. in Central Japan. Soil Science and Plant Nutrition 39 463-474. 

Tsutsuki, K., Esaki, I. and Kuwatsuka, S. (1994). CuO-oxidation products of peat as a key to the analysis of the paleo-environmental changes in a wetland. Soil Science and Plant Nutrition 40 107-116. 

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