Table of Contents

Peatlands are characterized as habitats where waterlogged and low oxygen conditions result in the accumulation of organic matter. This organic material is the peat, the partially decomposed remains of vegetation. Peat accumulations can be tens of meters deep, with peat to at least 30 to 40 cm depth typically being used to classify an ecosystem as a peatland. This book examines the microbial ecology of peat swamp forests, new methods for the waterproofing of construction materials with organic peat compounds, and the fundamentals of obtaining sorption materials from mineral peat-based compositions and their industrial applications. (Imprint: Nova)