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Distribution of Surfactants in the Sea Surface Microlayer and Sub-surface Water in the Melaka River Estuary

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Abstract

This study determines the levels of surfactants at 12 stations located in the Melaka River Estuary. This river estuary is located within a tourism area of Melaka Historical City. The concentrations of anionic and cationic surfactants in the sea surface microlayer (SML) and sub-surface water (SSW) were determined by using two colorimetric methods, methylene blue active substances (MBASs) and disulphine blue active substances (DBASs), respectively. The results showed that cationic surfactants as DBAS (ranging between 0.19 and 0.25 μmol L−1) dominated the concentrations of surfactants in SML. The enrichment factor (Ef) between MBAS and DBAS in the SML and SSW ranged between 1.0 and 2.0, and 1.0 to 1.4, respectively. There was no significant correlation (p > 0.05) between MBAS and DBAS for both SML and SSW. Nevertheless, there were strong correlations (p < 0.05) between both MBAS and DBAS in the SML and SSW. The results showed the potential contribution of degradation processes of organic substances microorganisms in SSW towards the concentrations of surfactants in SML. Compared to previous studies, tourism-related activities may influence the concentrations of surfactants, especially DBAS, in this river estuary.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to thank Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia for their logistical support during sampling. This work was supported by Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI) under E-Science Fund 04–01-02-SF1259 Research Grant. We also thank Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia for Research University Grant (AP-2015–010). The authors would like also to thank Universiti Malaysia Terengganu for providing field measurement instrument and Ms Fatin Adlina Md Nasir for field sampling assistance.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Biology and Environmental Sciences, Carl von Ossietzky University Oldenburg, Ammerländer Heerstr. 114-118, 26129, Oldenburg, Germany

    Leonie Jaeger

  2. School of Environmental and Natural Resource Sciences, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600, Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia

    Royston Uning, Norfazrin Mohd Hanif & Mohd Talib Latif

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  1. Leonie Jaeger
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  2. Royston Uning
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  3. Norfazrin Mohd Hanif
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  4. Mohd Talib Latif
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Correspondence to Mohd Talib Latif.

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Jaeger, L., Uning, R., Mohd Hanif, N. et al. Distribution of Surfactants in the Sea Surface Microlayer and Sub-surface Water in the Melaka River Estuary. Bull Environ Contam Toxicol 103, 374–379 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00128-019-02662-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00128-019-02662-6

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