Analysis of Low Lead and Cadmium Concentrations in Soil Extracts by Graphite Furnace Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry

An analytical procedure was derived to provide an accurate measurement of low lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) concentrations in soil extracts using graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (GFAAS). Based on peak area measurements and with background correction, the use of 2% phosphoric acid as chemical modifier enables the GFAAS to give measurements of Pb and Cd concentration as low as 3 fLg dm-3 with a high degree of precision. The modifier ensures a single well-defined atomization peak of the analyte, and therefore higher sensitivity and accuracy in the measurements

Desorption of Copper from Soil and Sediment

Copper desorption isotherms for three soil and sediment samples obtained from the Lohan area in Ranau, Sabah were determined. There was large hysteresis in the desorption isotherms, showing irreversible retention of adsorbed copper. The deso1'bability of the adsorbed copper was found to be very small at low levels of Cu adsorption compared with higher levels

Chemical Forms of Cu, Zn, Ni and Co in Soil and Sediment of .Ranau, Sabah

This study was conducted to determine the distribution of the chemical forms of Cu, Zn, Ni and Co in the soil and sediment samples obtained from Lohan area in Ranau, Sabah. The samples were sequentially extracted with 0.5 M KNO /0 remove soluble plus exchangeable metals, with 0.5 M NaOH to remove organically bound metals, 0.05 M Na zEDTA to dissolve metals in oxide or carbonate form, and with 4 M HNO 3 at 80°C to dissolve metals in sulphide minerals. Most of the metals analysed were present as sulphide minerals with the exchangeable plus soluble fractions being very low

Chemical Characterisation of Podzols in Sabah, East Malaysia

Chemical analyses were carried out on three podzol samples from the Tambunan and Keningau districts in Sabah. The values of pH, Organic carbon content, cation exchange capacity and HCI extractable metals vary distinctly between horizons. Such variation was most significant between horizons E and Bh and except for pH, the values for the above parameters were lowest and highest in horizons E and Bh respectively

Particle Size Distribution of Copper Mine Tailings from Lohan Ranau Sabah and its Relationship with Heavy Metal Content

Particle size analyses were carried out on copper mine tailings from Lohan, Ranau Sabah. About 99.64% of the tailing particles were < 1000 /lm in size while 52.23%,15.72% and 4.87% were < 125 j.l.m, < 62.5 pm and < 38 j.l.m/respectively. The amount of heavy metal extracted by 0.5 HCI was in the order Mn > Cu > Ni > Zn > Co > Cd and is relatively higher in the finer tailing particles

Status logam berat dalam ikan dan produk berasaskan ikan di pasaran tempatan

Kandungan beberapa jenis logam berat di dalam berbagai jenis ikan laut dan hasil makanan berasaskan ikan laut adalah rendah. Ini bererti bahawa semua sampel yang telah dikaji tidak akan menyebabkan gangguan kesihatan yang disebabkan oleh ketoksikan logam berat beracun. Pada kajian awal kandungan kadmium (Cd) pada beberapa jenis ikan didapati agak tinggi, tetapi setelah di adakan kajian ulangan, semua sampel kenunjukkan kadar kandungan Cd juga rendah. Walau bagaimanapun, kajian ini tidak lengkap kerana logamlogam berat beracun yang lain seperti merkuri dan arsenik tidak dikaji. Sepatutnya alat-alat radas seperti spektrofotometer penyerapan atom mesti dilengkapi dengan peralatan tambahan sehingga boleh digunakan' mengikut keperluan penyelidikan. Data juga menunjukkan bahawa ikan dan produk ikan boleh membekalkan Zn, K dan Fe yang cukup tinggi

Industrial revolution 4.0: Universiti Malaysia Sabah perspective

Industrial Revolution 4.0 or IR 4.0 is getting the attention of Higher Learning Institutions throughout the world. In the case of Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS), “transformation towards University/Industry 4.0” has been identified as one of the nine key result areas (KRAs) in the Strategic Plan 2018-2020. The transformation framework focusses on three areas namely Teaching and Learning 4.0, Smart Eco-UMS 4.0 and Research 4.0. Various initiatives have been planned for each area, some of which are currently being implemented. Previously, under the Strategic Plan 2013-2017, UMS gave great attention on developing and promoting UMS as an eco-campus in line with UMS aspiration to be the reference of eco-campus or green campus in the region. This will be further enhanced under Smart EcoUMS 4.0 in line with the United Nation sustainable development goals. One of the related initiatives is Smart Energy. Through the initiatives under the UMS Ecocampus Plan 2013-2017, a total reduction of 44.50 % in energy consumption was recorded between 2014-2017 compared to 2013 and with 29 % reduction in carbon footprint from 2014-2017. The commitment towards an ecocampus has significant impacts on lowering energy usage and reducing carbon footprint. We believe that the smart energy initiative will further contribute to another level of energy saving and carbon footprint reduction towards reducing the impacts of climate change

Case study 11: The use of camera traps to monitor medium to large mammals in HCVAs, Wilmar Oil Palm Plantation, Miri, Sarawak

Wilmar has a long-term collaboration with UNIMAS since 2013 to conduct biodiversity monitoring (including camera trapping for monitoring mammals) at its oil palm estates in the Miri Division in Sarawak. The biodiversity monitoring sites consist of three HCVAs that are located within the estates. These forested areas are designated as HCVAs as they contain substantial proportions of remnant native biodiversity. Camera trapping has been extensively used in wildlife research as it is highly effi cient and cost-effective for monitoring mammals (Tobler et al., 2008; Rovero et al., 2014), especially in the case of tropical rainforests where species can be cryptic and elusive in nature (Azlan, 2006). Three mammalian surveys via camera trapping were conducted in the Wilmar Oil Palm Plantation, Miri, Sarawak in years 2013-2014, 2014-2015 and 2018-2020. Study sites consisted of three High Conservation Value Areas (HCVAs) that are located within the estates of Saremas 1, Saremas 2 and Segarmas. Bukit Durang is the largest HCVA measuring 989.9ha, Segarmas HCVA is 147.9ha and the smallest is Saremas 1 HCVA at 116.3ha (see accompanying map). Bukit Durang HCVA is classifi ed as HCV 1 while Saremas 1 and Saremas 2 HCVAs are classed as HCV 4. These forests were designated as HCVAs as they contain substantial proportions of remnant native biodiversity. The HCVs are managed by Wilmar’s Eco Management Unit (EMU) under the Sustainability Division and fi nanced by the individual estates. Wilmar Oil Palm Plantation is certifi ed by MSPO, ISCC and RSPO

SIGNIFICANT QUALITY OF FRAGMENTED FORESTS IN OIL PALM PLANTATIONS : LESSON FROM THE ASSEMBLAGE STRUCTURE OF FROGS (Amphibia: Anura)

Being known as a good environmental indicator, the anuran is an ideal animal model for investigating the quality of High Conservation Value (HCV) areas (fragmented forests) in maintaining or enhancing biodiversity values in an oil palm plantation. Using non-metric multidimensional scaling (NMDS) frogs from forest fragments and oil palm were investigated and compared, to identify species assemblages and guild. Our findings showed that species diversity differed significantly between High Corrections Values and the plantation areas. The High Corrections Values showed highest percentage of species endemism, and species of conservation importance in the areas. The NMDS analysis futher suggests that the anuran assemblages at the oil palm plantation were disjunctive as the HCV areas provide isolated assemblages to the anuran species, different from that of the plantations. The number of species was found to be significantly influenced by water temperature, turbidity, salinity, and level of dissolved oxygen. Overall, the HCV areas supports high species diversity, including endemic and near threatened species compared to the plantation areas. Hence, these HCV areas are functioning and should be maintained as high priority areas for faunal conservation in an oil palm plantatio

Modelling trace metal extractability and solubility in French forest soils by using soil properties

Soil/solution partitioning of trace metals (TM: Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Ni, Sb, Pb and Zn) has been investigated in six French forest sites that have been subjected to TM atmospheric inputs. Soil profiles have been sampled and analysed for major soil properties, and CaCl2-extractable and total metal content. Metal concentrations (expressed on a molar basis) in soil (total), in CaCl2 extracts and soil solution collected monthly from fresh soil by centrifugation, were in the order: Cr > Zn > Ni > Cu > Pb > Co > Sb > Cd , Zn > Cu > Pb = Ni > Co > Cd > Cr and Zn > Ni > Cu > Pb > Co > Cr > Cd > Sb , respectively. Metal extractability and solubility were predicted by using soil properties. Soil pH was the most significant property in predicting metal partitioning, but TM behaviour differed between acid and non-acid soils. TM extractability was predicted significantly by soil pH for pH < 6, and by soil pH and Fe content for all soil conditions. Total metal concentration in soil solution was predicted well by soil pH and organic carbon content for Cd, Co, Cr, Ni and Zn, by Fe content for Cu, Cr, Ni, Pb and Sb and total soil metal content for Cu, Cr, Ni, Pb and Sb, with a better prediction for acidic conditions (pH < 6). At more alkaline pH conditions, solute concentrations of Cu, Cr, Sb and Pb were larger than predicted by the pH relationship, as a consequence of association with Fe colloids and complexing with dissolved organic carbon. Metal speciation in soil solutions determined by WHAM-VI indicated that free metal ion (FMI) concentration was significantly related to soil pH for all pH conditions. The FMI concentrations of Cu and Zn were well predicted by pH alone, Pb by pH and Fe content and Cd, Co and Ni by soil pH and organic carbon content. Differences between soluble total metal and FMI concentrations were particularly large for pH < 6. This should be taken into account for risk and critical load assessment in the case of terrestrial ecosystems