Distribution of selected minerals and heavy metals in the surface sediments from Kelantan river off Tumpat, Tanah Merah and Kuala Krai area

Abstract

A mineral is an inorganic substance that occurs naturally meanwhile heavy metal is one of the crucial contaminants in nature. The objectives of this study are to determine physical characteristics of the surface sediments by measuring through the grain size and to assess the distribution of minerals and heavy metals in sediments. The result of heavy metals was then used to estimate the level of pollution in Kelantan River by applying the Geo-accumulation Index (Igeo). In this study, 15 surface sediments were collected from three major districts which are Tumpat, Tanah Merah and Kuala Krai off Kelantan River. The samples were analyzed by the X-Ray Fluorescence Spectrometry (XRF) and X-Ray Diffraction Spectrometry (XRD) to evaluate the presence of chemical composition and minerals, respectively. Three major mineral compounds were identified in the sediments which were quartz (COD 9009666), muscovite (COD 9000837) and illite (COD 9013732) with the average values 13.96%, 19.28% and 31.1% respectively. Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS) was used to determine the concentration of heavy metals. The results showed that the average concentration of majority heavy metals in sediments ranged in the permissible value set by World Health Organization (WHO). Moreover, the contamination risk alongside the Kelantan River is considered as low according to the result of Geo-accumulation Index (Igeo).