## 3 Literature Review
### Peat Processing Technologies and Peat Applications
#### 3.2.2 The Potential of High Added Value of Peat Products and Materials  
After the literature review regarding peat processing methods, a further investigation of opportunities for peat's industrial use in high-added-value products is required. Biomass from paludiculture can be used for innovative product production that might positively affect GHG emission reduction, partly replacing existing products that generate higher emissions [5]. * **Building materials**  
Peat's possibilities have been proven in the building sector, where peat soil composite materials can be used as raw materials or additives. Peat soil can be a promising addi  
Figure 4: Peat processing technologies for peat product manufacturing [95; 150]. Figure 3: Peat processing techniques for energy [150]. tive in construction materials, strengthening the durability of masonry blocks to meet necessary building standards. It is possible to improve building materials' characteristics, including insulation properties, using peat as an additive or producing the products themselves [99; 152; 153; 154; 155; 156]. In building materials, cement has often been used with high-lying peat, moistening peat with water first. Then, after the peat is wholly saturated with water, calcium oxide, which can be obtained by calcining limestone, is added to the peat [154]. The search for alternative and innovative thermal insulation solutions in renovation has been more common recently, including using peat as a raw material or additive in thermal insulation panels [57; 93; 155; 156]. In Finland, research has been conducted on peat moss use as an effective insulation solution in buildings. It is also possible to use lowland peat as a raw material to produce thermal insulation materials. Thermal insulation materials using peat consist of peat binders, additives, and components for creating a framework [94; 156]. It has been found that thermally treated fen peat, also known as black peat, can be mixed with gypsum and tar, which can then be used to produce thermal insulation materials [33; 157]. There are examples of successful models in which the raw materials for creating heat insulation panels are wood in combination with peat, and the peat serves as a binder. Using peat as a binder makes it possible to produce sound-absorbing panels, whereas several models use natural fibres. These panels, made from natural resources, compete with synthetic materials [99; 152]. If the thermal conductivity of a thermal insulation material is to be assessed, thermal insulation materials where peat is used can be compared to mineral wool on the market. It is estimated that the coefficient of thermal conductivity of peat moss material is 0.35 mW/mK [100], which is significantly lower than other insulation materials. In the panel production process, resin strengthens the thermal insulation panels [99; 100]. Peat moss has potential use in the thermal insulation boards used in construction, with lower thermal conductivity in comparison to other materials [100]. Mats and moss slabs with a 100 kg/m\({}^{3}\) density are estimated to have a thermal conductivity of 0.04 W/mK [100]. Peat moss is estimated to absorb \(\sim\)30 times its weight in water before it becomes saturated [100]. Insulation panels made from peat moss possess better mechanical properties than wood panels. Peat moss panels are denser in comparison to other materials. Peat moss boards that contain tannin are comparable to cotton, and wet-processed peat moss boards have a higher water absorption than dry-processed [100]. 3D-printed houses. Peat mixture as an innovative solution in the building sector has emerged in recent years in Europe. Peat use in construction materials is more common in Norway, where peat is used in building new houses or renovating. Peat's use in producing 3D-printing technologies as a construction material has been investigated in Estonia [156; 157; 158]. Geokar peat blocks are made using peat processed into a paste combined with straw or sawdust, which can be used to construct thermal insulation panels.