Abstract—Peat profile exhibits a unique water table dynamics which impinge fate of elements in the system. This work aimed to study the microstructure and elemental composition of peat profiles using FESEM coupled with EDX techniques. Peat profiles were divided into aerobic peat, anaerobic peat, transitional peat, mineral soils under transitional peat and bottom mineral soils. Results demonstrated darker colour of former layers and brighter gray colour of later layers. Water extracted from peat profiles were rich in N, P, K, Ca and Mg. Microscopic image illustrates different stages of peat disintegration experienced by each layer. The EDX results reveals astounding amount of N, Mg, K, Al and Fe in transitional peat and mineral soils underneath, which was absence in peat layers. From this study, it is believed there was a deposition and movement of elements upward and downward peat profiles, concurrent with the fluctuating water table.
Index Terms—FESEM, profile, peat, microscopy, EDX.
The authors are with Faculty of Plantation and Agrotechnology, UiTM Shah Alam, 40450, Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia (e-mail: nurqursyna@yahoo.com.my).
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Cite: Nur Qursyna Boll Kassim and Adzmi Yaacob, "Microscopic Study of Peat Profiles Using FESEM Coupled with EDX Technique," International Journal of Chemical Engineering and Applications vol. 8, no. 1, pp. 33-36, 2017.
