Malaysian Journal of Analytical Sciences Vol 23 No 3 (2019): 444 - 450

RARE EARTH ELEMENTS IN SEDIMENT CORES OBTAINED FROM THE PORTS OF TANJUNG PELEPAS AND SEDILI, JOHOR AS POLLUTION INDICATORS

(Unsur Nadir Bumi dalam Teras Sedimen Diperolehi dari Pelabuhan Tanjung Pelepas dan Sedili, Johor Sebagai Penunjuk Pencemaran)

Wai Seong Koh and Che Abd Rahim Mohamed*

Faculty of Science and Technology,

Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 UKM Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia

*Corresponding author: carmohd@ukm.edu.my

Received: 23 February 2019; Accepted: 12 May 2019

Abstract

Sediment core samples obtained from the Port of Sedili and Tanjung Pelepas, Johor were slice into layers with intervals of 3 cm to estimate the contamination levels of rare earth elements at harbour areas. An analysis of rare earth elements (REEs) including La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb and Lu were conducted using the Inductively Couple Plasma Mass Spectrometry. The measured concentration of REEs normalized with Fe as an enrichment factors signal. A positive value ratio of Ce/Ce* anomalies (1.10 - 1.18) was shown at the Port of Sedili whereas at the Port of Tanjung Pelepas showed negative Ce/Ce* anomaly values (0.87 - 0.96). However, both stations showed weak positive Eu/Eu* anomaly values of 0.76 - 0.84 (Port of Sedili) and 0.96 - 1.0 (Port of Tanjung Pelepas). Fractionation index was also using to define the relative behaviour of LREEs to HREEs by the ratio of La/Yb_n. The results of this study support the proposition to use REEs as an indicator of pollution.

Keywords: rare earth elements, core sediment, harbour, pollution indicator, value ratio

Abstrak

Sampel diperolehi di pelabuhan Sedili dan Tanjung Pelepas, Johor dipotong setiap lapisan 3 cm untuk anggaran tahap pencemaran unsur nadir bumi di kawasan pelabuhan. Analisis unsur nadir bumi (REEs) iaitu La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb dan Lu dilakukan dengan Induktif Pasangan Plasma Mass Spektrometri. Kepekatan REEs yang diperolehi akan dinormalkan dengan Fe sebagai faktor penunjuk perkayaan. Nilai nisbah Ce/Ce* anamoli (1.10 - 1.18) adalah positif diperolehi di Pelabuhan Sedili manakala negatif Ce/Ce* anamoli (0.87 - 0.96) di Pelabuhan Tanjung Pelepas. Walaubagaimanapun, kedua-dua stesen menunjukkan nilai positif lemah Eu/Eu* anamoli iaitu 0.76 - 0.84 (Perlabuhan Sedili) dan 0.96 - 1.0 (Perlabuhan Tanjung Pelepas). Indek pecahan juga digunakan untuk mengenalpasti tingkahlaku LREEs hingga HREEs melalui nisbah La/Ybn dan keputusan mendapati menyokong penggunaan REEs sebagai penunjuk pencemaran.

Kata kunci: unsur nadir bumi, teras sedimen, pelabuhan, penunjuk pencemaran, nilai nisbah

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