Bioactive Substances
The chemical compounds in peat responsible for its therapeutic and cosmetic effects. 16 substances documented.
Fulvic Acids
Chemical Compounds MW: 1,000–10,000 Da In peat: 5–20% of dry mass, higher ratio in sphagnum peat
Humic Acids
Chemical Compounds MW: 10,000–100,000+ Da In peat: 10–40% of dry mass
Humin
Chemical Compounds MW: >100,000 Da In peat: 20–50% of dry mass
Hymatomelanic Acids
Chemical Compounds In peat: Present alongside humic acids — separated by ethanol extraction
Iron
Chemical Compounds MW: 55.85 Da In peat: 0.1–2% of dry mass, highly variable by source
Magnesium
Chemical Compounds MW: 24.31 Da In peat: 100–5000 ppm, higher in lowland peat
Organic Acids
Chemical Compounds MW: 60–200 Da (small organic acids) In peat: 0.5–3% of dry mass
Peat
MaterialsPhenolic Compounds
Chemical Compounds MW: Varies widely — 100 to 10,000+ Da In peat: 1–10% of dry mass
Polysaccharides
Chemical Compounds MW: Varies — 10,000 to 1,000,000+ Da In peat: 5–15% of dry mass, decreasing with humification
Sphagnol
Chemical Compounds In peat: Trace — primarily in fresh or lightly decomposed sphagnum peat
Sulfur Compounds
Chemical Compounds MW: 32.06 Da In peat: 0.1–2% of dry mass
Tannins
Chemical Compounds MW: 500–20,000 Da In peat: Variable — higher in less decomposed sphagnum peat
Ulmic Acids
Chemical Compounds MW: <1000 Da (low molecular weight fraction) In peat: Present in aqueous peat extracts alongside fulvic acids
Waxes and Lipids
Chemical Compounds MW: Varies In peat: 1–8% of dry mass
Zinc
Chemical Compounds MW: 65.38 Da In peat: 10–200 ppm, variable by source