Peat Particles Research Articles

Specific surface area and microstructure of the surface of soil solid substrates of different genesis

The sorption characteristics of sand, peat, the arable layer of Moscow urbanozem and a mixture of these substrates were studied in conjunction with the surface topography of their solid phase, studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The arable layer has the greatest ability to absorb nitrogen, and the peat substrate showed very low values of the sorbed gas. A different picture of the mutual arrangement of substrate sorption isotherms is observed when water vapour is used as a sorbing gas. Peat is distinguished by high values of sorbed moisture in the entire studied range of relative humidity. This leads to differences in the ranking of substrates by specific surface area in descending order of its values. So, the specific surface area by water sorption in the series: peat / arable layer / mixture / sand was: 420 / 72 / 45 / 4 m2/g, respectively. The given surface was ranked according to nitrogen sorption in a different sequence: 8.31 / 2.41 / 1.45 / 0.55 for the series: arable layer, mixture, peat and sand, respectively. The analysis of microstructural characteristics by the SEM method at various magnifications revealed the most developed, rough surface in the arable layer. It turned out to be geometrically the most diverse, even at magnification of ×20 000. The variety and heterogeneity of the relief of the interface of the phases leads to the appearance of hysteresis of the sorption/desorption curves. Its severity in the range of nitrogen vapor concentration in which hysteresis is detected, and in the maximum width of the hysteresis loop, also turned out to be the most significant in the arable layer. The very low nitrogen specific surface of peat, which is close to a sandy substrate, is associated with the presence of organic films draping and leveling the surface of peat particles, which was revealed by analyzing images obtained by scanning electron microscopy. The sorption of water showed their high hydrophilicity, which led to high values of substrate humidity in the entire studied range of relative humidity.

Simulation and Experiment of Compression Molding Behavior of Substrate Block Suitable for Mechanical Transplanting Based on Discrete Element Method (DEM)

The compression molding performance of a substrate block has a significant effect on the quality and stability of mechanical transplanting. The physical experiment and DEM simulation were combined to evaluate the compression molding behavior of substrate block in this study. A calibration procedure of DEM parameters of peat particles was proposed at first. Then, the above parameters were brought into the contact model of the compression system–particles, and the effect of the loading speed on the compression behavior of the peat substrate block was investigated. The compressive force–displacement curves of the simulated and measured tests were all contained in the initial linear stage and non-linear stiffing stage. The particle number of central sections was higher than side section, and the variable coefficient was greater at higher loading speed. The substrate blocks all expanded after demolding. The higher the loading speed, the greater the expansion in the height’s direction, and the easier it was for cracks to be generated near the bottom. This study will provide a reference for the design of substrate block forming machines.

Mathematical Model and Numerical Method of Calculating the Dynamics of High-Temperature Drying of Milled Peat for the Production of Fuel Briquettes

Milled peat must be dried for the production of peat fuel briquettes. The current trend in the creation of drying technologies is the intensification of the dehydration process while obtaining a high-quality final product. An increase in the temperature of the drying agent, above 300 °C, significantly accelerates the reaching of the final moisture content of the peat. In the final stage, it is also accompanied by partial thermal decomposition of the solid phase. Its first stage, which is the decomposition of hemicellulose, contributes to a decrease in weight and an increase in the caloric content of the dry residue. The development of high-temperature drying modes consists of determining the temperature and velocity of the drying agent, wherein the duration of the material reaching the equilibrium moisture content will be minimal and the temperature of the material will not rise above the second-stage decomposition temperature of cellulose. This problem can be solved by the mathematical modeling of the dynamics of peat particles drying in the flow. The article presents a mathematical model of heat and mass transfer, phase transitions, and shrinkage during the dehydration of milled peat particles. The equations of the mathematical model were built based on the differential equation of mass transfer in open deformable systems, which, in the absence of deformations, turns into the known equation of state. A numerical method for implementing a mathematical model has been developed. The adequacy of the mathematical model is confirmed by comparing the results of numerical modeling with known experimental data.

A low-input strategy for chromium removal from industrial stormwater using peat sorbent.

Low-cost and low-input water treatment systems are important for industrial stormwater remediation. Here we examine a flow-through reactor treatment installation where water exceeds the allowable maximum concentration for drinking water in multiple metals (e.g., chromium [Cr], cadmium [Cd], zinc [Zn]) prior to treatment. Specifically, we seek to understand why Cr attenuated in the reactors is not leachable by identifying the specific chemical form of Cr and dominant mechanisms promoting sequestration in the reactors. Total solid-phase Cr concentration in the peat media ranged from 50 to 150mg/kg after 1 yr of exposure to stormwater to 300 to 900mg/kg after 3.5 yr. X-ray fluorescence mapping images show Cr, iron (Fe), and Zn spatially correlated over a scale of 10 μm to 5mm. Chromium rinds form on the edges of peat particles as Cr accumulates. Chromium and Fe K-edge X-ray absorption near edge structure spectroscopy reveal chromium predominately in the 3+ oxidation state with lesser amounts of elemental Cr. We propose the primary means of chromium attenuation in the reactors is precipitation as Cr-Fe hydroxides combined with trivalent Cr adsorption onto peat surfaces.

Fractionation of organic C, nutrients, metals and bacteria in peat porewater and ice after freezing and thawing.

To better understand freezing - thawing cycles operating in peat soils of permafrost landscapes, we experimentally modelled bi-directional freezing and thawing of peat collected from a discontinuous permafrost zone in western Siberia. We measured translocation of microorganisms and changes in porewater chemistry (pH, UV absorbance, dissolved organic carbon (DOC), and major and trace element concentrations) after thawing and two-way freezing of the three sections of 90-cm-long peat core. We demonstrate that bi-directional freezing and thawing of a peat core is capable of strongly modifying the vertical pattern of bacteria, DOC, nutrients, and trace element concentrations. Sizeable enrichment (a factor of 2 to 5) of DOC, macro- (P, K, Ca) and micro-nutrients (Ni, Mn, Co, Rb, B), and some low-mobile trace elements in several horizons of ice and peat porewater after freeze/thaw experiment may stem from physical disintegration of peat particles, leaching of peat constituents, and opening of isolated (non-connected) pores during freezing front migration. However, due to the appearance of multiple maxima of element concentration after a freeze-thaw event, the use of peat ice chemical composition as environmental archive for paleo-reconstructions is unwarranted.

COMBUSTION OF COMPOSITE PEAT-COAL MIXTURES IN A VORTEX FIREPLACE

The results of the numerical study of peat and brown coal combustion processes in avortex furnace with a power of 2.5 MW are presented. The processes in a vortex furnace with counterswirling flows with an upper supply of fuel and primary air and a supply of secondary air at thebottom of the furnace are studied. The removal of slag occurs in the bottom of the furnace. Theparticle size of fuel is from 25 microns to 250 microns. The calorific value of peat is 12.3 MJ/kg, thevolatile content is Vdaf=38 %, humidity is Wp=40 %, the stoichiometric coefficient is 7 kg air/kg fuel.The calorific value of brown coal is 13.9 MJ/kg, volatile content Vdaf=25-35 %, humidity Wp=30 %,stoichiometric coefficient is 4.3 kg air/kg fuel. The ash content of the fuel varies from Ap=20 % toAp=35 %. Ash content and humidity are Аp+Wp=65 %. It has been found that at ash content ofАp=30-35 % and humidity Wp=30-35 % the combustion process is unstable due to the problem ofremoving moisture and ash from the furnace volume. The temperature of the flue gases at the outletof the furnace when burning peat is found to be 1711 ºC, and the temperature of the ash is 1380 ºC,which ensures solid ash removal. The temperature of flue gases during the combustion of brown coalis 1888 ºC. A higher air excess coefficient is noted: a=2.36 in the process of burning peat and a=2.0when burning brown coal. The calculation results indicate that this ensures a high degree of cokecombustion in the particles that are captured: 99.8 % (peat particles) and 93.9 % (lignite). Theunderburning of fuel particles that are carried away is 0 % (peat) and 3.04 % (lignite). Theunderburning of fuel particles that are captured is 0.06 % (peat) and 0 % (lignite). The ratio ofoncoming flows is 0.2, which ensures the minimum hydraulic resistance of the furnace. Peat andbrown coal are similar to each other in chemical composition after the stages of coalification.Therefore, similar characteristics of combustion processes can be obtained by burning a composite mixture of peat/lignite (50 %/50 %), both in pulverized combustion and in the combustion of briquettegranules and water-fuel suspension – water-peat-lignite.

Numerical studies on thermochemical processing of peat in a fixed layer

Purpose. To investigate the gasification process of peat in gas generators with a fixed bed at a pressure of 1.5 MPa and create the initial conditions at the entrance to the waste burners required for combustion of the binary mixture. Methodology. The objects of research were peat granules of Volyn peat. To calculate the process of gasification of peat gas, the constructed model of thermochemical processing of solid fuel, described in the first part of the work by the authors was used. Findings. It is shown that in the area close to the upper boundary of the fixed bed, where the process of gasification of peat is stationary, there is a jump in the temperature of peat particles from 300 to 772C, in which the tar is practically not released, and thus the obtained pyrolysis gas contains CO2, H2O, H2 and CO. The structural and physicochemical characteristics of gas generators are obtained and the initial conditions at the entrance to the discharge burners of the chamber furnace of the steam generator TPP-210A are formed. Originality. It is shown that when the velocity of peat particles decreases, a slag bed is formed between the zone of maximum heat release and the grate, which consists of cooled ash particles, which protect the grate from overheating. With such an organization of the process it is possible to achieve the stationary process of gasification with mechanical incompletely burned material equal to zero. Practical value. It is shown that with the help of the model of thermochemical processing of solid fuels it is possible to adjust the height of the dry distillation zone by changing the velocity of the dispersed phase and the rate of heterogeneous and homogeneous chemical reactions by changing the proportion of O2 or H2O air enrichment.

Influence of operating conditions of milled peat jet transport on relative sliding of air and solid phases

Air-and-peat mixture in horizontal jet transport pipeline is considered as a compressible two-component mixture with uniform distribution of solid peat particles in continuous air phase. Such heterogeneous medium flow is substituted for a flow of interpenetrating air phase and a quasi-solid phase approximating the flow of discrete particles. Such approach makes it possible to write individual equations of continuity and motion for each phase, but it is required to introduce the forces of aerodynamic interference at the phase boundaries in the motion equations. From the analysis of the known theoretical and experimental research data on jet transport of granular materials, it is possible to identify some parameters such that variation of any of these parameters changes the jet transport energy consumption. Such parameters are: jet capacity per mass of air and solid, Qair and Qs (kg/s) or input-output characteristic of mass concentration, μ = Qs/Qair; reduced velocities of air, Vair, solid particles, Vs, and soaring, Vsn, hereinafter called the flow-rate mode parameters, as well as the size and density of solid particles and the profile of the jet pipeline route. The flow-rate mode parameters are simply registered in the jet transport tests. The numerical determination procedure of the actual operating conditions of milled peat jet transport is justified. The known experimental data on jet transport of milled and treated peat are processed. It is found that the relative sliding ratio is functionally connected with all operating conditions in horizontal jet transport. The change of any parameter or their combination induces transition to air-and-peat mixture flow with various relative sliding of air and solid phases at different energy consumption of horizontal jet transport.

Experimental Study of Tidal Flat Formation on Coastal Peat

Tidal flat formation on the coastal peat is a unique phenomenon that has occurred at western part of Bengkalis Island, Riau Province, Indonesia. It was identified that coastal erosion problems have been occurring continuously during at least the last 30 years along the north part of Bengkalis Island. The materials have moved to the south part of Bengkalis Island, and sedimented as tidal flat. Research on tidal flat in the peatlands has not yet been developed, so this study aims to carried out an experiment study in order to understand the tidal flat formation on coastal peat. The method used in this study is a simulation of tidal flat formation with several wave variations. Simulations were carried out using laboratory experiments with coastal peat samples and sea water at the wave channel. The results show that the waves and the velocity greatly influence the tidal flat formation and its formation rate. In addition, the formation of peat tidal flat was also influenced by velocity settling of the peat particles. The energy for tidal flat formation was the minimum energy generated by waves, that cannot transport the particles move back by reverse flow.

Experimental Determination of the Terminal Velocity and the Drag Coefficient of Peat Dust Particles

The results of experimental studies of the terminal velocity of peat dust in an air flow with different size distributions of dust particles are presented, and the particle sizes and shapes were examined by microscopic methods. The aerodynamic drag of peat particles of various sizes in an air flow was studied, and a criterion relationship between the drag coefficient CD and the Reynolds number (Re) was determined. The experimental results on the terminal velocity of peat dust were compared with data calculated using well-known methods, and recommendations for their application in the design of pneumatic fuel supply systems were given.

Application of Modified Peat Aggregate for Lightweight Concrete

The scientific article "Application of Modified Peat Aggregate for Lightweight Concrete" presents the results of studies of the properties of a new composite material for use in enclosing structures of residential and public buildings. Physical and mechanical characteristics of possible aggregates of local production for this type of concrete affecting its operational properties are considered. The prospects of using fly ash as an additive improving the characteristics of polystyrene concrete with the addition of modified peat have been established. The analysis was made and the optimal compositions for obtaining lightweight concrete based on peat and polystyrene foam were selected. The desorption properties of lightweight concrete important for its effective operation as a wall material were tested. It was found that the use of new types of surfactants can improve the water wettability of peat particles and polystyrene granules, thereby reducing the water-cement ratio and improving the compressive strength of the material. Possible efficiency of application of this type of concrete for use in enclosing structures of buildings and constructions under construction in seismic regions of Russia is considered. The presence of damping effect manifested in the material due to the presence of polystyrene granules in the perception of a certain level of load, which is important for the work of concrete under seismic influences, was experimentally established.

Numerical modeling of peat burning processes in a vortex furnace with countercurrent swirl flows

The paper presents the process of peat burning in a swirl furnace with counter-current swirl flows and the results of a numerical study. The cyclone-vortex technology of solid fuel combustion allows the furnace volume of a boiler unit, its dimensions and weight to be reduced. The aim of the work is a numerical study of the combustion of pulverized peat in a cylindrical vortex furnace with counter-current swirl flows. The results of computer simulation of the combustion of pulverized peat with a moisture content of 40%, an ash content of 6%, and a higher heat of combustion QpH = 12.3 MJ/kg are presented. The results of the influence of the design parameters of the furnace and heat load (from 100-15%) are given as well. When the heat load is reduced to 15%, the entrainment of unburnt particles increases. The cooled and adiabatic furnace is studied. A significant entrainment of unburned particles is observed in a cooled furnace. The fields of temperature distribution, gas velocity, and particle trajectory in the volume and at the outlet of the furnace are determined. The 3-D temperature distribution in the furnace volume indicates the combustion of peat particles at temperatures (1300-1450?C). Values of the tangential velocity of a swirl flow near the furnace outlet reach 150-370 m/s, which ensures the efficiency of separation of fuel particles and a reduction in heat loss due to mechanical underburning (up to 0.06%). The results of a numerical study show that the diameter of peat particles affects the combustion process, namely coke of particles with an initial diameter from 25-250 ?m burns out by 96%, and particles with a diameter of about 1000 ?m are carried away from the furnace and do not burn. The furnace provides a complete combustion of dust particles of peat by 99.8% and volatiles by 100%.

EXPRESS EVALUATION OF SORPTION MECHANISM ON PEAT CONTAINING MATERIALS

Peat is an effective sorbent of heavy metals, which is due to its high cation-exchange ability. The use of peat sorbents has many advantages. It is an inexpensive, affordable, and effective sorbent for a wide range of environmental pollutants. Also, it can be used either separately or as a combined sorbent and complex constituents; however, it also has several disadvantages, such as insufficient mechanical strength and low chemical stability of peat particles. To overcome these shortcomings, various methods of peat modification have been developed (e.g., peat modified with chitosan, which is used as a sorbent for heavy metals removal like peat). The ion-exchange sorption properties of sorbents on the base of peat and chitosan - modified peat were evaluated by the method of pH meter. An acid-activated peat sample was also investigated. The experiments were carried out in a static mode using natural peat samples taken from the Lake Sevan (near the city of Vardenis of the Gegharkunik region of the Republic of Armenia). Also, a similar study was conducted on KU-2-8 cation exchange resin. The purpose of this article was the express evaluation of the sorption mechanism of peat sorbents. Cation exchanger was transferred to the H+ form by treatment with HCl (1N). Changes in the pH profile as a function of the exposure time indicate their identity with the pattern of the pH change of the cation exchanger. It was found that acid activation of peat (exposure of a peat sample in HCl 1N for 10-16 hours) increases its adsorption capacity. In this case, the maximum decrease in pH is pH = 2.33, which is 1.44 points lower than for peat (pH = 3.77) and 0.95 points more than for KU-2-8 cationite. This indicates that sorbents based on peat can be regenerated. Chitosan-modified peat exhibits deterioration in sorption capacity. In this case, pHmin = 3.9, which shows that sorption on chitosan is not ion-exchange in nature.

Analysis of Physical and Microstructural Properties on Parit Nipah Peat Particles as Sustainable Asphalt Modifier

Innovations were conducted continuously to create sustainable asphalt modifier. In this research it is focused on the investigation work of the asphalt binder modified properties with different percentages of one different micro material. This material is Parit Nipah Peat. The investigation is about the physical properties of asphalt binders modified with Parit Nipah Peat PNpt.M.A. PNpt leads to make a lot of changes in internal and external of the samples that checked via penetration test, ductility test, and Scanning Electron Microscopic. The Parit Nipah Peat was added to the original binder with a high shear blender then used at 1500 rpm to mix the PNpt with the binder. Three (3) different percentages were mixed by weight of binder to modify the asphalt binder with the binder at 0, 3%, 5% and 7%. This material has a high ability to distribution with asphalt, appears to be plain and homogeneous and different structure after blended with bitumen. The physical property of modified binders enhanced the binder properties, as the results of penetration test, ductility test and distribution inside the binder showed that. Adding a different concentration of PNpt to base binder had significant effects of high resistant changing volume and increased hardness.

Characterizing the Effects of Pore Pressure Reduction and Voids using X-ray CT Scan towards Physical Changes due to Static Loading

Peat soil is widely known as soil with very low compressive strength and poor in shear strength. When loaded, it is easy to deform and visually witnessed. To understand the vital means to study the characteristic of this rupture soil material, which is of great significance in determination of soil shear strength involving peat soil settlement where pore and voids diminished when loaded especially for embankment prediction. On this basis, static triaxial test has been carried out to simulate the loading phase while pore and void elements inspected through 2D X-ray CT scan. Through the process, peat and the relationship between loading, pore and physical changes are monitored. Measurements were performed on consolidated undrained condition with strain-controlled method under monotonic loading. The 2D X-ray CT scan pattern of the sample deformation was imaged before and after loading process. Sample height is 100 mm and diameter 50 mm in cylindrical shape. Physical changes are visualized, and the data showed that, pore and voids diminished by loading factor, leading pore pressure decrease with increase of effective pressure. Pore pressure developed down-trend characteristic. From the result, there is no volume change are disclosed when loaded. From 2D CT-scan shows that, the pore between peat particles diminished in volume after static loading and parallel to static loading process.

Hydrosorption and Microstructural Characteristics of Soil Horizons of Different Geneses and Their Change in Constructozems

Soil substrates used in model constructozems (artificially constructed soils) of different fabrics created on the territory of Lomonosov Moscow State University in 2012 were investigated. A layered soil construction consisting of the Ap–peat–sand–Ap horizons with a total thickness of 30 cm and a construction made of a mixture of these horizons (18 cm in thickness) underlain by a 12-cm-thick Ap horizon were studied. As a control, a variant with homogenized Ap horizon was chosen. The isotherms of water desorption from the initial soil substrates and from the samples taken from the constructions in 2016 were obtained by the method of hygroscopic equilibrium over saturated solutions of salts. We calculated approximation parameters of the isotherms and values of the total specific surface area of soil substrates according to the BET theory. A shift of water desorption isotherms towards lower values of the water content in the Ap horizon depending on the depth of its location in the profile of constructozems and on the properties of the boundary layers was revealed. It caused a decrease in the total specific surface area by 20–50% in comparison with the initial values in 2012. A sharp decrease in water sorption was noted for the peat of the layered variant of constructozems, in which the median value of the total specific surface area decreased from 560 to 162 cm2/g, and the maximum hygroscopicity decreased from 57.8 to 20.96%. By means of scanning electron microscopy, a distinct close-space microaggregation was detected in the Ap horizon that acquired a loose consistence by 2016 on the surface of variant 2. The surface of the initial peat substrate was smoothed and represented an amorphous mass of light color attesting to its organic nature. By 2016, peat samples virtually lost their amorphous coatings, so that a porous cellular surface was exposed, and its topography corresponded to the surface of plant residues. A decrease in the sorption capacity against the background of stronger roughness and complicated surface topography in most of the studied substrates attested to the high sorption capacity of surface formations of organic nature that covered the initial microaggregates, elementary mineral soil particles, and peat particles.

PEAT-CONTAINING COMPOSITION CONTAINING MAGNESIA BINDER

Based on the new hydraulic magnesia binder, the compositions of the peat-containing composite material have been proposed and investigated. Hydraulic magnesia binder is an astringent composition of hydration-reaction hardening, which consists of an active caustic magnesia powder and a mixing fluid. As the fluid mixing an aqueous solution of magnesium bicarbonate Mg(HCO3)2 with a concentration of 13 g/l was used. Hardening forms water-insoluble products - magnesium hydroxide Mg(OH)2 and magnesium bicarbonates of general formula MgCO3·zMg(OH)2·nH2O, which makes it possible to harden and used products based on such a binder as in the air, and in water. The use of peat as a filler of the developed compositions will make it possible to obtain lightweight waterproof materials and products of heat-insulating purpose. It has been shown that the peat-and-magnesian compositions of all compositions have a hydration hardening coefficient of more than 1.0, which indicates intensification of the hydration and hardening processes in water conditions in comparison with air and large strength parameters. Using XRD the phase composition of peat products and peat- magnesium hardening compositions was established. Thermal analysis showed the presence of magnesium hydrogencarbonates in samples of compositions that are in the form of slightly crystallized neoplasms. Investigations by electron microscopy confirmed the presence of hydrocarbons such as magnesium particles dipingite Mg5(CO3)4(OH)2·5H2O and hydromagnesite Mg5(CO3)4(OH)2·4H2O in the form of thin plates with the vertical direction of crystallization. Increased water resistance of compositions based on hydraulic magnesia binder with non-water-resistant filler peat is due to mineralization of peat particles due to their impregnation with a solution of magnesium bicarbonate and the formation of water-soluble magnesium hydrogen carbonates in the loose porous structure of peat.

Dispersion Change in Peat Mechanical Treatment

The article discusses the research of peat physical and mechanical treatment which consists in determining technological parameters of peat stock. Size distribution and conditional specific surface area of peat particles are set. The relationship between processing efficiency and the content of peat fractions which size is less than 250 microns is derived. It proves to be linear. Treatment efficiency is found to be estimated by the data of a screen analysis alone and with satisfactory accuracy. Mechanical treatment has an effect on the values of total moisture capacity. The dependence is nonlinear and decreases insignificantly up to the conditional specific surface area of 350 m2/kg due to the partial grinding of fibrous coarse fractions. Mechanical treatment up to the conditional specific surface area of 500 m2/kg results in the sharp decrease of total moisture capacity due to the practically complete destruction of coarse fractions. With that of more than 500 m2/kg the values of total moisture capacity change insignificantly. Multiple peat treatment causes its mechanical consolidation and the reduction of coarse fraction content along with significant increase of fine fraction content.

Enhancing peat metal sorption and settling characteristics

Peat is an excellent material for metal sorption since it naturally contains different kinds of functional groups that can sorb metal cations from water. The main objective of this work was to test low-cost treatment (acid and alkali) methods for natural peat, which would improve the settling properties of peat particles while maintaining its metal removal efficiency. Particularly, the poor settling properties of peat hinder its practical application. The study revealed that NaOH-treated peat (0.1M) had excellent settling properties and could be applied in wastewater applications having mixing and settling systems without a settling aid. The superior leaching of humic and fulvic acids in alkaline treatment caused a change in morphology, making it a harder and sticky material. Moreover, the NaOH-treated (0.1M) peat was proven to be the most efficient material for nickel removal followed by the HCl-treated (0.2M) peat, citric acid-treated (0.16M) peat and water-treated peat. A higher temperature and longer time slightly increased the Ni removal efficiency with NaOH-treated peat material. The settling of HCl-treated peat was studied further using polyacrylamide flocculants (cationic, neutral, anionic). Cationic flocculants performed best and the cationic charge density also had an effect on the flocculation performance of peat particles. This study provides further evidence that peat can be applied in the treatment of metal-containing wastewaters.

Xanthan gum biopolymer: an eco-friendly additive for stabilization of tropical organic peat

Biogeotechnology is a recently established branch of geotechnical engineering, associated with the practical uses of microbiological techniques to improve the engineering properties of geomaterials. This study explores the utility of xanthan gum, an eco-friendly biopolymer obtained from microbial sources, for stabilization of tropical organic peat, using a series of macroscale and microscale test approaches. At the macroscale, the shear strength characteristics of both untreated and stabilized peat were evaluated using unconfined compression strength (UCS) and standard direct shear tests. Microscopic techniques, including field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), Brunauer, Emmett, and Teller (N2-BET) surface area analysis, and particle size analysis, were also utilized to examine changes in the microstructural characteristics of stabilized peat that are caused by the chemical reaction that occurs between the xanthan gum and peat particles. UCS test results showed that the xanthan gum stabilization significantly improved the shear strength of the peat in its natural condition, with the 28-day strength of the stabilized peat being six times higher than the strength of the untreated peat. Microstructural analysis showed that the morphological characteristics of the peat are changed due to the chemical reaction that occurs during the curing process, as indicated by the FESEM results. Over time, formation of cementitious products was clearly observed, which welded peat particles and filled the pores in the soil structure, yielding a denser soil fabric with less pore volume and stronger attractive forces. From the testing that was performed, xanthan gum stabilization is recommended for peat as an eco-friendly and sustainable alternative to traditional soil stabilization additives such as cement or lime.