TIME DEPOSITION OF COPPER, MANGANESE AND NICKEL AT PERAI RIVER, PENANG

Abstract

Perai Industrial Area is one of the densest industrial and heavily populated zones in Malaysia. Concentration levels of copper, manganese, and nickel were investigated in the Perai River in this area. Sediment core was collected within the river, about 4-5 km away from the estuary, one each during the rainy and dry period using a KC™ Kajak corer. Concentrations of elements were performed using the Energy Dispersive X-ray Fluorescence Spectrometer (EDXRF); meanwhile, the sediment deposition rates which were determined through the Lead-210 dating technique were taken from previous the publication. Using continental crust values and iron metal concentration as normalization values, enrichment factors for elements were calculated. The results showed copper showing moderate enrichment in sediment during the dry period in the study area. Meanwhile, no enrichment for manganese and nickel was found in that area. Estimated sedimentation rates suggested the contaminants were deposited quickly and happened during the last two to four years prior to this study.