Organic Matter in Water and Peat of the Ob Fen, Western Siberia

The organic material in water and peat collected in March 2021 from the extensive Ob Fen in Western Siberia was analysed using gas chromatography - mass spectrometry (GC-MS). It was shown that the process of formation and subsequent transformation of peat is characterised by the entry into the environment of large amounts of organic substances, whose genesis is currently insufficiently studied. A variety of organic compounds were identified including alkanes, fatty acids, terpenoids, alcohols and aromatics. The concentration of most contaminants decreased significantly with increasing depth of peat deposit. Compounds identified in the water were also found in the peat, indicating active exchange processes in the water-peat system. Recommendations for further study and ecological monitoring of Siberian peatlands are presented.