The Malaysian Journal of Analytical Sciences Vol 10 No 1 (2006): 177 - 184

 

 

 

 

DISTRIBUTION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF HYDROCARBONS IN SEDIMENTS OF SETIU WETLAND, TERENGGANU:

A PRELIMINARY STUDY

 

Norhayati Mohd Tahir¹, Hasra Masrifah Abd. Rahim¹,  Mhd. Radzi Abas³ 

and Mohamad Kamil Abd. Rashid²

 

¹Kumpulan Penyelidikan Alam Sekitar (ERG), Jabatan Sains Kimia,

²Jabatan Sains Samudera Fakulti Sains dan Teknologi,

 Kolej Universiti Sains dan Teknologi Malaysia (KUSTEM), 21030 Kuala Terengganu, Terengganu

³Jabatan Kimia, Fakulti Sains, Universiti Malaya (UM) Kuala Lumpur

 

Abstract

Samples of surficial bottom sediment collected from 10 stations along Setiu Wetland (Terengganu) have been analysed and characterized in terms of biogenic and anthropogenic hydrocarbons. Sediment was extracted by using ultrasonic agitation methods with dichloromethane (DCM) as solvent. After removal of sulphur content using mercury treatment technique, the hydrocarbons were separated into fractions by silica-alumina column chromatography. Aliphatic and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) fractions were analysed using GC-FID and GCMS, respectively. The concentration of total identified n-alkanes in sediment ranged from 1.13 - 10.5 µg g-1   dry weight while total identified aromatic hydrocarbons ranged from 0.04 - 1.80 µg g-1  dry weight. Most of the stations exhibit the presence of C29  and C31  as Cmax  which are known to originate from epiticular waxes of higher (vascular) terrestrial plants. A distribution of n-alkanes  in  the  range  of  C25 – C31    with  odd  carbon  predominance  and  the  absence  of  PAH’s  from anthropogenic sources (e.g. combustion process) in  the sediments provide further evidence in support of terrigenous input of these hydrocarbons in the study area. It can thus be concluded that the sediments in the wetland is still in pristine condition.

 

Keywords: biogenic hydrocarbons, anthropogenic hydrocarbons, wetland, surface sediment, terrigenous input

 

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