MINERAL RESOURCES OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK 20I 



Perhaps the most promising field for the employment of peat 

 as fuel is in connection with the gas-producer for power plants 

 whereby the recovery of the nitrogen content in the form of ammo- 

 nium sulphate becomes practicable. In this case it is not necessary 

 to carry the drying operation beyond a point readily attained by 

 natural means; a further advantage inherent in this method is that 

 the peat requires no compressing as is necessary when it is to be 

 employed at a distance from the bog. The nitrogen content of the 

 peat then becomes a matter of importance, since with proper appa- 

 ratus for its recovery a very considerable drawback upon the operating 

 costs might be realized. The gas produced by the combustion of 

 the peat, after removal of the nitrogen compounds, is used for fuel 

 or power. 



Undoubtedly the most thorough investigation of the possibilities 

 of peat as fuel that has been carried out in recent years is that of 

 the Department of Mines of Canada which conducted working tests 

 over a period of two years under expert guidance. A report^ pre- 

 pared by B. F. Haanel gives a full account of the results obtained, 

 as well as a review of the progress made in the use of peat abroad. 

 The following paragraph from this report is presented as a succinct 

 and reliable statement of the situation in regard to the commercial 

 aspects of peat for fuel: 



" Unless the manufacture of peat fuel is conducted on a bog 

 situated reasonably near a community which is able to take over 

 the entire output produced, peat manufactured for domestic or 

 fuel purposes alone would not prove a profitable venture. This is 

 due to the comparatively low heating value of peat, to its moisture 

 content and to the large volumes it occupies per heat unit, as 

 compared with coal; and when to these disadvantages is added that 

 of high freight rates per ton, the reason of the foregoing statement 

 will be obvious. But while peat may serve as a domestic fuel in 

 only certain cases, it may be well adapted for the production of 

 power, or as fuel gas. This is especially so in the case of peat 

 which has a high nitrogen content, since this element can be profitably 

 recovered in the ammonia gas formed in the by-product recovery 

 producer. According to the process employed in by-product recovery 

 work, the ammonia gas is fixed with sulphuric acid, and the resulting 

 product " ammonium sulphate " is then sold for agricultural pur- 

 poses. The demand for this product is, today, greater than the 

 supply, consequently its price per unit is somewhat high. Whenever, 

 therefore, the nitrogen content of the peat is sufficiently high, the 



^ Peat, Lignite and Coal. Mines Branch, Department of Mines, Ottawa, 1914 



