The Malaysian Journal of Analytical Sciences Vol 12 No 3 (2008): 593 - 599
METAL GEOCHEMISTRY OF NERUS RIVER,TERENGGANU
Poh Seng Chee1*, Suhaimi Suratman1, Chew Choon Keat1, Noor Azhar Mohamed Shazili2
and Norhayati Mohd Tahir1
1Environmental Research Group (ERG)! Department of Chemical Sciences,
Faculty Science and Technology
2lnstitute of Oceanography,
University Malaysia Terengganu, Mengabang Telipot,
21030 Kuala Terengganu, Terengganu
*Corresponded author: hayati@umt.edu.my
Abstract
The Nerus River passes through the Setiu and Kuala Terengganu districts, on the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia. It passes through the populated urban area of northeastern Kuala Terengganu and receives and carries different kinds of agricultural and urban solid and liquid wastes produces by agricultural based industries and domestic sewage. The objective of this study is to investigate trace metal concentration in suspended particulate and water of the Nerus River and relate this to the anthropogenic activities. Water samples were collected from nine sites during dry and pre monsoon seasons (from May to October). Water pH, temperature, electric conductivity and salinity were measured in-situ. The suspended particulate was separated from water by using 0.45 µ m pore size acetate cellulose membrane filter. Water (filtered) samples were subjected to APDC-MIBK pre-concentration and particulate samples were totally digested by using strong acids. Cd, Cu, Zn and Pb were analyzed using GFAAS and ICP-OES. Although the overall concentration of the metals obtained were still within Class I limit of the INWQS, however the results indicated that there is an increasing trend of Cu and Zn concentration in Nerus River water compared to previous study done in 2001. High Cu and Zn concentration in suspended matter sampled at downstream station which received effluent from nearby factories.
Keywords: urban river, dissolved metals, particulate metals
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