Inorganic constituents in finnish fuel peat ash

The contents of K, Ca, Sr, Ba, Ti, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, Si, Pb, P, S, Cl and Br in 28 samples of fuel peat from seven bogs have been determined by X-ray fluorescence. The determinations were made for both peat ash and dried peat. The ashing temperature has a definite effect on the Cl, Br, and S contents. In additions, emission spectrography was used for determination of Y, Zr, V, Cr, Mo, Co, and Ni in peat ash. Water solubility of peat ashes was studied by atomic absorption spectrometry. Na, K, Mg, and Ca were found to occur partially in water soluble forms in the ash. The crystalline minerals in the ash were identified by X-ray diffraction. (author)