Separation of Components in the Group Analysis of the Organic Matter of Peat: A Review

Abstract—Methods and conditions for the separation of different groups of organic matter in the group analysis of peat, which have been developed and improved in different countries over more than 100 years, are analyzed. Data on the influence of the type of extractant, temperature, pH, extraction time, and other factors on the yield and properties of different groups of organic matter from peat are presented. It is shown that the separation of some organic matter components can significantly change the yield, molecular structure, and properties of other components. The degrees of changes in components with the use of different group analysis methods are different. To eliminate these disadvantages, it is necessary to search for instrumental techniques for the quantitative measurement of the concentrations of the main components in the organic matter of peat instead of extraction methods.