title: Composition and distribution of surfactants around Lake Chini, Malaysia.
abstract: This study aims to determine the composition of surfactants in the lake surface microlayer, rainwater, and atmospheric aerosols in the area surrounding Lake Chini, Pahang. Surfactants in the lake surface microlayer were taken from seven different stations around the lake, while samples of rainwater were taken from five different sampling stations. The samples of atmospheric aerosols were collected from the Lake Chini Research Centre which is in close proximity to the lake. The colorimetric analysis method was used to determine the composition and concentration of anionic surfactants as methylene blue active substances (MBAS) and cationic surfactants as disulphine blue active substances (DBAS). The concentration of anionic surfactants, as MBAS, in the surface microlayer ranged between 0.08 to 0.23 μmol L(-1), while the range of concentration of cationic surfactants as DBAS ranged from 0.09 to 0.11 μmol L(-1). The concentration of MBAS was higher in rainwater when compared to surfactants in the lake surface microlayer. The high concentration of surfactants in the fine mode of atmospheric aerosols suggests that natural and anthropogenic sources of surfactants contribute to the atmospheric surfactants.
authors.affiliation: School of Environmental and Natural Resource Sciences, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia. talib@ukm.my
authors.forename: Mohd Talib
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Latif
authors.forename: Lim
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wanfi
authors.forename: Norfazrin Mohd
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Hanif
authors.forename: Razarul Naim
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: Roslan
authors.forename: Masni Mohd
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Ali
authors.forename: Idris
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Mushrifah
mesh_terms: D000336:Aerosols / Q000032:analysis; D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis; D001272:Atmosphere / Q000737:chemistry; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D060106:Lakes / Q000737:chemistry*; D008296:Malaysia; D052638:Particulate Matter / Q000032:analysis; D011891:Rain / Q000737:chemistry; D013501:Surface-Active Agents / Q000032:analysis*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D000336:Aerosols; D000393:Air Pollutants; D052638:Particulate Matter; D013501:Surface-Active Agents; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical