Geomorphological and Sedimentological Features of River Sadong, Sarawak, Malaysia

The effect of topography, climate, soil, and geology on River Sadong sediments is related to its geochemistry. Eighteen surface sediments and five core samples were collected in replicates from six sampling sites along River Sadong, Sarawak, Malaysia. The main aim of this study is to describe the geomorphology and sedimentological characteristics of the river sediments. This was achieved by the study of the processes that form the sediments and influence their physical and chemical characteristics. The sediments were analyzed for their sedimentological characteristics. The results indicated that the studied area is enriched with organic matter, and there are no sedimentary structures in its vicinity

Geomorphological and Sedimentological Features of River Sadong, Sarawak, Malaysia

The effect of topography, climate, soil, and geology on River Sadong sediments is related to its geochemistry. Eighteen surface sediments and five core samples were collected in replicates from six sampling sites along River Sadong, Sarawak, Malaysia. The main aim of this study is to describe the geomorphology and sedimentological characteristics of the river sediments. This was achieved by the study of the processes that form the sediments and influence their physical and chemical characteristics. The sediments were analyzed for their sedimentological characteristics. The results indicated that the studied area is enriched with organic matter, and there are no sedimentary structures in its vicinit

Review of the Sedimentological and Geochemical Approaches for Environmental Assessment of River Sadong, Samarahan-Asajaya District Sarawak, Malaysia

This paper presents an overview of the implication of geomorphology and sedimentology on the chemical characteristics of sediments of River Sadong, Malaysia. There is limited published work on the effect of topography, climate, soil and geology on the sediments lying in the River Sadong. Studies have been undertaken around Kota Samarahan and Asajaya areas whereby some heavy metal constituents and their environmental effects were determined. The study entails the description of the depositional processes alonggside with physical and geochemical changes, without neglecting natural and anthropogenic effects

Vertical Profile Of Heavy Metal Concentration In Sediments From Sadong River, Sarawak, Malaysia

Several sources of heavy metals in the environment include biological, geochemical, geological and anthropogenic sources. A total of eighteen core sediments were taken from Sadong river, Sarawak, Malaysia. These samples were digested by acid extraction and thereafter subjected to atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS). This paper aims to determine the vertical profile of heavy metals in core sediments, infer the accumulation history and assess the possible sources of pollution. The results showed that Fe was the most abundant element while Cd had the lowest concentration. Sediment pollution assessment was carried out for the top layer using geoaccumulation index (Igeo), enrichment factor and contamination factor. EF values showed moderate to significant enrichment of heavy metals

Distribution and Sources of Aliphatic Hydrocarbons in Sediments from Sadong River, Sarawak, Malaysia

Twenty-one surface sediment samples collected from Sadong River, Sarawak were analysed for aliphatic hydrocarbons. These hydrocarbons were recovered from sediment by Soxhlet extraction and then analysed using gas chromatography equipped with mass spectrometer (GC-MS). The sediments collected from Sadong River have high concentrations of total aliphatic hydrocarbons which ranged from 310.41 to 1296.43 g/g. Evaluation of various n-alkane indices such carbon preference index (CPI: 1.32 to 1.98) and average chain length (ACL: 26.26-27.19) showed that there was a predominance of petrogenic sources of n-alkanes in the river and biogenic origin n-alkanes from vascular plants. The petrogenic source of n-alkanes are predominantly heavy and degraded oil with fresh oil inputs. It is believed that the hydrocarbons originated from both natural and anthropogenic sources. The hydrocarbons were mostly transferred by lateral input than atmospheric movements

Heavy Metals and Hydrocarbon Distribution Characteristics of Sediments from Batang Sadong of Samarahan Division, Sarawak, Malaysia

Sediments are useful tools in understanding the environmental processes. The physical and chemical characteristics of sediments are dependent on geology, hydrological factors, geochemical influences, human activities and others. Sadong River is a major river catchment in Sarawak and the characteristics of the river sediments can be influenced by natural and anthropogenic factors. The aim of this study was to describe the sedimentological features of the river, and also determine the spatial and vertical distribution of heavy metals as well as the hydrocarbons. The degree of contamination by heavy metals and hydrocarbon compounds in the sediments were assessed. The surface sediments and core sediments with depths between 25 – 45 cm from seven sampling locations along Batang Sadong of Samarahan Division, Sarawak have been studied. The surface and core sediments were subjected to sedimentological analysis to determine the grain size distribution, moisture content, total organic matter (TOM) and ash content. Geochemical analyses were also conducted to determine the heavy metal and hydrocarbon contents in sediments. Heavy metals were extracted by wet digestion using a mixture of HNO3:HCl (3:1; v/v) and then analysed using atomic absorption spectrophotometer (AAS). Concentration of the eight (8) heavy metals and three (3) major metals in surface sediments were determined. The concentration of heavy metals in surface sediments were ranged 19.2 to 46.61 mg/kg (Zn), 3.45 to 12.30 mg/kg (Cu), 219.59 to 464.75 mg/kg (Mn), 1801.85 to 3447.62 mg/kg (Fe); 3.71 to 18.63 mg/kg (As) and 4.61 to 69.73 mg/kg (Pb). The geoaccumulation index (Igeo), contamination factor (CF) and enrichment factor (EF) showed that the surface sediments of Sadong River is unpolluted. Both principal component analysis (PCA) and cluster analysis (CA) showed the heavy metals were mainly derived from lithogenic sources with minimal input from anthropogenic sources. The concentration of Fe in core sediments was consistent from the upper layer to lower layer for all cores. The concentration of Cu in core sediments was consistent for all samples except for Sungai Buloh (BS3). Distribution pattern of Ni, Zn and Mn varied from the upper to the lower layers of core with a fluctuated pattern. Both aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons in the surface and core sediments were analysed using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS). Domination of n-alkanes originated from vascular plants were observed with significance high molecular weight (HMW) n-alkanes with odd carbon numbers in the sediments. Data of average chain length (ACL) and carbon preference index (CPI) supported this finding as observed in Sadong Jaya (BS2) and Serian (BS7). Terrigenous aquatic ratio (TAR) showed the importance of terrestial plant over biogenic n-alkanes in the sediments. The LMW/HMW (value <1) showed domination of HMW n-alkanes in all sediment samples except for Sadong Jaya (BS2) sediment with a value 1.07. The presence of n-alkanes in the sediments of Sadong River may be associated with minimal petroleum input through direct deposition into the sediments or indirect ways by land runoff. Assessment of n-alkanes in the core sediment showed the hydrocarbons originated from terrestial vascular plants, phytoplankton, algae and petroleum. Sixteen (16) targeted PAHs have been detected in Sadong River sediments with the occurrence of pyrene and fluoranthene which indicated pyrolytic input. The distribution and environmental indices of heavy metals and hydrocarbons showed sediments of Sadong River are unpolluted with heavy metals and hydrocarbons which are derived mainly from natural and minimal input of anthropogenic sources