Abstract

Yet Yin Hee^1,2 and Suhaimi Suratman^1,2*

DOI : http://dx.doi.org/10.13005/ojc/290217

A study was carried out in the Dungun River basin, Malaysia during the period of March-July 2003 to determine the distribution of silicon (Si) compounds such as dissolved inorganic silicon (DISi), total dissolved silicon (TDSi) and total particulate silicon (TPSi). The chlorophyll-a (chl-a) levels were also measured. Results showed that the concentration of DISi, TDSi, TPSi and chl-a were in the range of 1660-9084 μg/L Si, 1908-9294 μg/L Si, 34-564 μg/L Si and 0.46-5.26 mg/L, respectively. It was observed that the main source for Si in this study area probably contributed from the weathering of soils and rocks. Comparison between concentration of chl-a and Si compounds showed the phytoplankton related process only influenced the TPSi distribution in the water column. With respect to the Malaysian National Water Quality Standard (NWQS), the level of DISi is under natural level.

Surface water; dissolved and particulate silicon; NWQS, chl-a; Dungun River basin

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