Organic matters in healing muds from Mongolia

Abstract The physicochemical properties and characterization of some organic matters of peloids from 12 lakes in Mongolia were examined. These peloids belong to the continental hydrosulfide sticky peloid except Gurvan nuur peloid, which was classified as a sapropel with high ash content. The peloid organic matters were investigated using chemical analysis and several analytical techniques, such as IR, and 13 C NMR spectroscopy, GC/MS, and gas chromatography. The concentration of total organic carbon in all continental hydrosulfide sticky peloids is ranged from 0.4 to 3.1 mass %, but 15.3 mass % in the sapropel. Thus, the majority of the peloids in Mongolia are hydrosulfide sticky peloids with lower organic content than the sapropel and peat. In this study, no significant differences in the chemical composition were observed between dissoluble and insoluble organic matters from peloids. Some classes of biomolecules, including lipids and carbohydrates, were identified. The biogenic stimulator humic acid was the major part of the peloid organic matter. HA concentration varied between 11% and 56% of total organic matter. The macromolecule of the sapropel HA exhibited a lower aromatization degree and more functional groups than other HAs, as revealed by the 13 C NMR data and the C/H ratio. Our results suggested that the presence of known bioactive organic compounds, such as humic acids, lipids, and carbohydrates, as well as hydrogen sulfide, increase the balneological value of peloids in Mongolia.