Surfactants In Sea-surface Microlayer Research Articles

Distribution of Surfactants in the Sea Surface Microlayer and Sub-surface Water in the Melaka River Estuary.

This study determines the levels of surfactants at 12 stations located in the Melaka River Estuary. This river estuary is located within a tourism area of Melaka Historical City. The concentrations of anionic and cationic surfactants in the sea surface microlayer (SML) and sub-surface water (SSW) were determined by using two colorimetric methods, methylene blue active substances (MBASs) and disulphine blue active substances (DBASs), respectively. The results showed that cationic surfactants as DBAS (ranging between 0.19 and 0.25μmolL-1) dominated the concentrations of surfactants in SML. The enrichment factor (Ef) between MBAS and DBAS in the SML and SSW ranged between 1.0 and 2.0, and 1.0 to 1.4, respectively. There was no significant correlation (p > 0.05) between MBAS and DBAS for both SML and SSW. Nevertheless, there were strong correlations (p < 0.05) between both MBAS and DBAS in the SML and SSW. The results showed the potential contribution of degradation processes of organic substances microorganisms in SSW towards the concentrations of surfactants in SML. Compared to previous studies, tourism-related activities may influence the concentrations of surfactants, especially DBAS, in this river estuary.

Surfactants in the Sea Surface Microlayer, Underlying Water and Atmospheric Particles of Tropical Coastal Ecosystems

This study aims to determine the composition of surfactants in the sea surface microlayer (SML), underlying water (ULW) and atmospheric particles (AP). Surfactants were determined colorimetrically as methylene blue active substances (MBAS) and disulphine blue active substances (DBAS) for anionic and cationic surfactants, respectively. The concentration of dissolved inorganic nutrients (DIN) in ULW was determined so as to indicate the influence of ULW to the surfactants in SML. The results showed that the concentration of MBAS and DBAS in SML at both stations ranged between 0.05 and 0.31 μmol L−1, and between 0.19 and 0.59 μmol L−1, respectively. Surfactants in ULW influence the concentration of surfactants in SML (r = 0.65, p < 0.01, n = 36). The station influenced by anthropogenic sources showed a higher concentration of surfactants in ULW, SML and AP. This finding suggests fine mode atmospheric particles (FMAP) are the main carrier for anionic surfactants as MBAS in the coastal ecosystem. Anionic surfactants as MBAS were found as better indicator of anthropogenic sources than cationic ones.