Contribution to coalification processes from geological and microbiological aspect : the case of Philippi peat/lignite

• Κύριος συγγραφέας: Καλατζή, Μαρία Ιγνατία
• Άλλοι συγγραφείς: Χρηστάνης, Κίμων
• Μορφή: Thesis
• Γλώσσα: English
• Έκδοση: 2018
• Θέματα: Peat; Lignite; Microbiology; Philippi; Geological microoranisms; Peatland; 553.21; Τύρφη; Λιγνίτης; Μικροβιολογία; Φίλιπποι; Γεωλογικοί μικροοργανισμοί; Τυρφώνας

This study deals with the characteristics of peat at depths of 0.20 - 191 m, to detect the changes in the physical and chemical characteristics of organic sediments and the microbiological aspect. The research focused on the Philippi peat (N. Kavala). The Philippi peatland grows in an intercontinental basin, whose sinking is mainly controlled by tectonic agents, with the development of peatgenetic plant species such as Cyperaceae, and is influenced by karst aquifers, constituting a topogenous mire, with main morphological characteristic the presence of hummocks. The qualitative and quantitative characteristics of the organic and inorganic sediments were examined. Particularly elementary and elemental analysis, mineralogical determinations and trace analysis (ICP-MS) were performed. Also, the abundances, compositions, and activities of microbial communities were investigated. Despite the important role of peatlands in the global carbon cycle, microbial communities in these environments remain understudied. Peats have been gradually recognized as a home to diverse microbial assemblages primarily through cultivation based studies. Modern molecular techniques have begun to be employed to explore microbial community structure in peatlands. DNA extraction, Nanodrop-3300 measurements, bacterial and archaeal qPCRs, mcrA genes qPCRs, normal PCRs and gel electrophoresis were performed. Ash content fluctuates greatly, and in particular the average ash value in peat is 40.79% by weight a value that is consistent with the topogenic character of the peat. Ash values in the samples range from 11.79% to 80.82%. The eC ranges from 183.5 - 1621 μS / cm, with an average of 746.7 μS / cm and pH from 4.70 to 7.69 with an average of 6.4. The minerals that appear in almost all samples are quartz, calcite, alkaline feldspars, clay minerals - more particularly, kaolinites - muscovite and bassanite (2CaSO4 • H2O). In this study, the conclusions that have emerged are that the Philippe peat is an intercontinental limestone-alkaline topogenous mire. The characteristics of sediment deposited vary mainly due to climatic changes. The Philippi peatland has a "moderate" content of minerals. In Holstein, the Eemian and Upper Weichsel there is a strong inflow of aluminosilicated grain, while in Saalian and the Holocene intense carbonate inorganic sedimentation. The shift of microbial abundance, community composition, and activity parallels with the stark differences in pH, eC, elementary and elemental analysis and in mineralogical determinations and trace analysis (ICP-MS).