Categories
vol-36Surfactant Concentrations and Physicochemical Characteristics
of Alexandria Coastal Water
Abd El-Hafiz, M. S.*, Okbah, M. A.* and EL’Masry, M. H. **
*National Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries, Alexandria, Egypt
** Institute of Graduate Studies & Research, University of Alexandria, Egypt.
Received 19th September 2010, Accepted 25
th October 2010
Abstract
The distribution of surfactant concentrations and the effect of physico-chemical characteristics (Temperature,
pH, salinity, dissolved oxygen, oxidizable organic matter, alkalinity and calcium content) were studied. Water
samples were investigated seasonally, during 2009 covering eight locations from El-Dekhila Harbor to Abu Qir Bay.
The annual mean of water temperature and pH were 18.70- 27.11 °C and 7.82 – 8.48, respectively. The results
revealed that the values of salinity, DO, OOM, alkalinity and Ca were given as annual mean in the ranges: (33.75-
39.10; 37.38 ± 1.53 ‰), (1.32-5.18 ; 3.73 ± 0.99 ml/l), (0.32- 10.56; 5.00 ± 3.12 mg/l), (2.52- 3.21; 2.74± 0.22
meq/l), and (382- 443; 416.65 ± 18.54 mg/l), respectively. The results of linear alkyl benzene sulfonate “LAS”
concentrations revealed a high range of variation and regional irregularities (0.088 – 0.333; annual mean 0.188±
0.095 mg LAS/l). The study indicated that the mean concentrations of surfactant examined here are higher than
those reported for unpolluted Seawater (0.01 LAS mg/l) and typical of open ocean water.
Key words: Alexandria, coastal area, physical parameter, surfactant
