Geochemical study of peat in the function of balneological characteristics of peloids

Abstract

The Dürnberger Moor peat in the Zirbitzkogel-Grebenzen National Park area, located near the settlement of Sankt Lambrecht, Austria, was investigated. Organic geochemical approaches, which are most commonly used in studying the origin and geological history of various types of organic substances in sedimentary rocks, were applied to explain its potential peloidal properties, i.e. to assess its application in balneology. The content of total organic matter, and the content of fulvic and humic acids were first determined in the samples. The group composition (percentage content of saturated hydrocarbons, aromatic hydrocarbons and NSO, nitrogen, sulfur, oxygen compounds) was determined in the extracted bitumen. In the isolated saturated hydrocarbon fraction, n-alkanes, isoprenoids, terpanes and steranes were analyzed by GC-MS technique (SIM method). In addition to β-amyrin, an organic compound with proven therapeutic properties, the tested samples contain humic substances of the type fulvic and humic acids. Specific organic geochemical parameters showed a very low degree of thermal maturity of the organic substance and provided evidence that its humification had not yet reached the level of humin. It was concluded that the tested peat can be used as a geological material for the formation of peloids, and thus as a means in balneotherapy.