“These are organic deposits of plant remains, microorganisms and mineral particles formed at the bottom of lakes, swamps and other bodies of stagnant water, where the amount of oxygen is minimal. Only the layers of sapropel are formed very slowly – they settle only 1-2 mm per year, so layers several meters thick can be as much as 10 thousand. years ago”, says Valdas Stankevičius, chief geologist of the Lithuanian Geological Service.
About 10 billion are preliminarily concentrated in the lakes and swamps of Lithuania. m³ of sapropel – sediments that began to form 10-12 thousand years ago. years after the last ice age. According to the data of the Lithuanian Geological Service (2022), the forecast resources of sapropel amount to 152,886 thousand. cubic meters. Sapropelio is found throughout the territory of Lithuania, but the most explored resources are in Vilnius, Utena and Alytus counties.
However, so far, very little sapropel is exploited in the country – in 2023. only about 1 thousand were extracted. cubic meters. This limited use is due not only to low demand, but also to the need for specialized equipment and a complex extraction process, which increases operating costs.
What is sapropel used for?
In agriculture sapropel is used as a natural fertilizer that adds organic matter to the soil and improves its structure. Sapropel, which contains a lot of organic matter, improves the agrochemical, biological, physical properties of the soil and helps to maintain the humus balance. Sapropel mineralizes slowly and releases nutrients slowly, so its positive effect on the soil can last up to 20 years. Sapropel has bactericidal properties – plants get sick less in soil mulched with it.
Sapropelis – a healthy feed additive for livestock and poultrysuitable for antibiotic-free farms. Due to group B vitamins, micro- and macroelements, amino acids and biostimulants, it is a very valuable feed additive for pigs and birds. Properly used sapropel improves digestion and assimilation of substances, increases body weight gain, calcium absorption, and bird performance.
Medicine and cosmetics. Sapropel is one of the most valuable components of balneotherapy and a natural type of healing mud, as it helps reduce joint and muscle pain, reduces inflammation and promotes skin regeneration. It also promotes blood circulation, sweating and helps to remove toxins from the body. Since sapropel is rich in biologically active substances, it is beneficial for the skin, especially for dermatological problems such as eczema, psoriasis, etc.
Personal archive photo/A lake or marsh ecosystem with various plants and sediments that form at the bottom of stagnant water bodies
In addition, due to its moisturizing and regenerative properties and antiseptic components in cosmetics, sapropel is used in skin care products.
Sapropel, as an ecological material, can be used biofuel to produce briquettes and give them additional thermal value. Properly prepared organic sapropel is used for the production of biofuel briquettes. It is caloric, has good binding properties when forming fuel pellets and briquettes, and when dry, it is completely waterproof. After all, it is natural carbon accumulatorhelping to reduce the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
Chemical industry. Tar, bitumen, lignin, coke, pitch can be extracted from sapropel.
Production of building materials. As an effective binding material, it can be used in the production of heat-insulating panels made of straw, mineral wool, and sawdust. In this area, the possibilities of using sapropel were studied by scientists of Kaunas University of Technology. The amount of sapropel in the total mass with the filler in the product form is 15-20 percent. (humidity 92-95 percent).
Pressed and shaped plate is dried and heated at 140-160 °C. Heating greatly improves the adhesive and hydrophobic properties of sapropel and the product. Products with sapropel are resistant to mold. Belarusians have done more research in this area.
Production of ceramics. Carbonate and organic sapropel can be used to make ceramics. Carbonate sapropel determines the main technological properties of clay (plasticity, shrinkage, sintering) and the color, density, strength, and frost resistance of the ceramic product. A ceramic product with the addition of carbonated sapropel shrinks less during firing, is lighter when fired, has better thermal insulation properties, and is lighter in color.
Clay products mixed with up to 10% of dried and properly prepared (ground) calcareous sapropel, burn out faster, do not deform at all during burning, their strength and hygroscopicity are almost unchanged. Organic sapropel is suitable for the production of ceramics with a porous structure suitable for thermal insulation products. Such ceramics do not change at a temperature of 1000 °C.
Mixing organic and calcareous sapropel into the clay improves the structure of ceramic products – during the decomposition of carbonates due to the release of carbon dioxide, many small pores appear, improving the properties of the product. The use of sapropel for the production of ceramic products was evaluated by scientists of the Kaunas University of Technology and individual representatives of the art field.
Geological and historical value
Sapropel allows scientists to study past climatic and environmental conditions. Thus, by analyzing its layers, it is possible to determine the changes that have taken place over the millennia.
Remains of grains or plants found in sapropel indicate the beginning of agriculture in certain regions. The layers found in Europe testify that agriculture began to spread here more than 5000 years ago.
For example, sapropel layers found in some areas of Europe even show that there was an increase in fires due to human activity at some point in time. Traces of anthropogenic waste and soil erosion are found in sapropel layers. They talk about deforestation, farming or urban development. Traces of heavy metals in the sapropel of some areas testify to pollution during the Industrial Revolution. For example, high concentrations of lead and mercury found in northern Europe are associated with intensive metallurgy in the 18th and 19th centuries.
High concentrations of biogenic materials are found in sapropel, indicating periods of climate change. For example, in the sapropel layers of the Mediterranean, monsoonal rains and the associated influx of fresh water created an almost oxygen-free environment. This occurred when fresh water entering the sea formed the surface layer, leaving warmer, saltier and heavier seawater deeper down.
Therefore, oxygen could no longer enter the deep layers and its lack in the deep waters of the Mediterranean stopped the decomposition (oxidation) of organic matter. These oxygen-deficient conditions prevented the decomposition of organic matter, thus creating a favorable environment for the formation of sapropel.
Parasite eggs are also found in sapropel, because this layer of sediment of organic origin is formed at the bottom of lakes, swamps or other bodies of stagnant water, where the remains of plants and animals accumulate. The presence of parasites indicates certain conditions (for example, warm and wet periods) that have encouraged the growth of the parasite population. Such research helps to restore the prevalence of diseases and to understand the evolution of parasitic organisms and their influence on vegetation and animal populations.
Thus, sapropel is a unique natural resource that provides a lot of important information to scientists in various fields and is valuable not only for past research, but also for current needs.
Composition of sapropel
In practice, sapropel is defined as a structureless, colloidal lake sediment, from a liquid jelly-like consistency to a dense, plastic or fluffy consistency and containing at least 15% substances of organic origin. The impurities consist of the mineral part – sandstone, clay or freshwater carbonates. According to the chemical composition, sapropel is divided into organic (low ash – up to 30 percent ash) and very ash (30-85 percent ash).
Very ash sapropel is divided into carbonate, siliceous and mixed depending on the ash composition. The ratio of the amounts of these components in the sediments created a large sequence of different varieties of sapropel. Sapropel rich in organic matter can be used the most and has the greatest value. Organic sapropel of the most valuable composition is found in eutrophic and dystrophic lakes surrounded by swamps.
The dry matter can contain up to 98 percent. organic materials. Sapropel contains hydrolyzed trace elements and metals – Al, Ca, Co, Cu, Fe, K, Mo, Zn, Se; B, Br, C, J, N, P, S, Si, etc. One of the most characteristic features of sapropel is the colloidal structure (it is an intermediate form between a solid and a liquid). The organic colloids in sapropel have low filtration, stickiness, and high water absorption, so they can absorb a lot of water. Its content in sapropel ranges from 40 to 97 percent. The density of sapropel in its natural state (in the lake) is 1.03-1.08 t/m3. During drying, it loses a lot of moisture, its volume decreases by 4-6 times and more, the density increases to 1.25-1.35 t/m3. Only after freezing, the colloidal structure breaks down, the sapropel becomes fluffy, the density decreases to 0.4-0.7 t/m3.
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#wealth #hidden #Lithuanian #bogs #healing #mud #source #sustainable #energy #Business
For soil improvement, animal feed, and various industrial applications. Here’s a summary of its main uses:
### 1. **Agriculture**
– **Natural Fertilizer**: Improves soil structure, enhances agrochemical, biological, and physical properties, and maintains humus balance.
– **Bactericidal Properties**: Reduces plant diseases when used as a mulch.
### 2. **Animal Feed**
– **Feed Additive**: Valuable for livestock and poultry, especially in antibiotic-free farming, due to its rich content of vitamins, minerals, and amino acids.
– **Improves Health**: Aids digestion and weight gain in animals.
### 3. **Medicine and Cosmetics**
– **Therapeutic Mud**: Used in balneotherapy for muscle and joint pain relief, inflammation reduction, and skin regeneration.
- **Skin Care**: Beneficial for dermatological issues due to moisturizing, regenerative, and antiseptic properties.
### 4. **Biofuel Production**
– **Biofuel**: Can be processed into briquettes with good caloric value and moisture resistance, acting as a carbon accumulator to reduce CO2 levels.
### 5. **Chemical Industry**
– **Raw Materials**: Source for extracting tar, bitumen, lignin, coke, and pitch.
### 6. **Building Materials**
– **Binding Agent**: Used in the production of heat-insulating panels, providing resistance to mold and improving hydrophobic properties.
### 7. **Ceramics Production**
– **Clay Modifier**: Enhances properties like plasticity and thermal insulation in ceramic products.
### 8. **Geological and Historical Research**
- **Environmental Study**: Helps in understanding past climatic conditions, agricultural beginnings, pollution, and ecological changes through sediment analysis.
### 9. **Ecological Significance**
– Acts as a unique natural resource for various scientific and industrial applications, while also providing historical insights.
sapropel is a versatile material with a wide range of applications in agriculture, animal husbandry, medicine, industry, and environmental research, making it a valuable asset both historically and in contemporary practices.
