The geochemistry and phosphorus sorption characteristics of Mgeni catchment sediments

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dc.contributor.advisorFey, Martin Ven_ZA
dc.contributor.authorHounsome, Robin Simonen_ZA
dc.date.accessioned2016-07-04T08:41:55Z
dc.date.available2016-07-04T08:41:55Z
dc.date.issued1995en_ZA
dc.descriptionIncludes bibliographical references.en_ZA
dc.description.abstractThe Mgeni River is vital for the continued industrial and social development of Durban and Pietermaritzburg and the river has been impounded in four places to provide a crucial water resource to these areas. The river is highly susceptible to anthropogenic pollution, particularly phosphorus, which may be derived from unsanitised peri-urban areas or run-off from fertilised agricultural lands. Sediments may be sources or sinks of pollution in aquatic systems. Grab samples of the uppermost sediment layer were taken from sites at each of the impoundments and analysed for salient geochemical characteristics, such as major and trace element concentrations, clay mineralogy, organic carbon, P fractionation, and particle size distribution. Batch experiments were also carried out to determine the P sorption desorption characteristics of the sediments under different pH and redox conditions. The sediments are dominated by clay sized material (< 2mm) which is composed of kaolinite, gibbsite, goethite, mica and other undifferentiated· 2: 1 layer silicates and quartz. Kaolinite, gibbsite and goethite are found extensively throughout the catchment area and are the result of intense weathering. These minerals readily sorb cations onto their surfaces. The significant correlations which were found between the clay content and the concentration of trace metals, particularly Mo, Pb, and Zn, most likely result from accumulations of cations on the mineral surfaces. It was suggested, therefore, that the Mgeni sediments are potential sinks for polluting elements.en_ZA
dc.identifier.apacitationHounsome, R. S. (1995). <i>The geochemistry and phosphorus sorption characteristics of Mgeni catchment sediments</i>. (Thesis). University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Science ,Department of Geological Sciences. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/11427/20189en_ZA
dc.identifier.chicagocitationHounsome, Robin Simon. <i>"The geochemistry and phosphorus sorption characteristics of Mgeni catchment sediments."</i> Thesis., University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Science ,Department of Geological Sciences, 1995. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/20189en_ZA
dc.identifier.citationHounsome, R. 1995. The geochemistry and phosphorus sorption characteristics of Mgeni catchment sediments. University of Cape Town.en_ZA
dc.identifier.ris TY - Thesis / Dissertation AU - Hounsome, Robin Simon AB - The Mgeni River is vital for the continued industrial and social development of Durban and Pietermaritzburg and the river has been impounded in four places to provide a crucial water resource to these areas. The river is highly susceptible to anthropogenic pollution, particularly phosphorus, which may be derived from unsanitised peri-urban areas or run-off from fertilised agricultural lands. Sediments may be sources or sinks of pollution in aquatic systems. Grab samples of the uppermost sediment layer were taken from sites at each of the impoundments and analysed for salient geochemical characteristics, such as major and trace element concentrations, clay mineralogy, organic carbon, P fractionation, and particle size distribution. Batch experiments were also carried out to determine the P sorption desorption characteristics of the sediments under different pH and redox conditions. The sediments are dominated by clay sized material (< 2mm) which is composed of kaolinite, gibbsite, goethite, mica and other undifferentiated· 2: 1 layer silicates and quartz. Kaolinite, gibbsite and goethite are found extensively throughout the catchment area and are the result of intense weathering. These minerals readily sorb cations onto their surfaces. The significant correlations which were found between the clay content and the concentration of trace metals, particularly Mo, Pb, and Zn, most likely result from accumulations of cations on the mineral surfaces. It was suggested, therefore, that the Mgeni sediments are potential sinks for polluting elements. DA - 1995 DB - OpenUCT DP - University of Cape Town LK - https://open.uct.ac.za PB - University of Cape Town PY - 1995 T1 - The geochemistry and phosphorus sorption characteristics of Mgeni catchment sediments TI - The geochemistry and phosphorus sorption characteristics of Mgeni catchment sediments UR - http://hdl.handle.net/11427/20189 ER - en_ZA
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11427/20189
dc.identifier.vancouvercitationHounsome RS. The geochemistry and phosphorus sorption characteristics of Mgeni catchment sediments. [Thesis]. University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Science ,Department of Geological Sciences, 1995 [cited yyyy month dd]. Available from: http://hdl.handle.net/11427/20189en_ZA
dc.language.isoengen_ZA
dc.publisher.departmentDepartment of Geological Sciencesen_ZA
dc.publisher.facultyFaculty of Scienceen_ZA
dc.publisher.institutionUniversity of Cape Town
dc.subject.otherGeological Sciencesen_ZA
dc.titleThe geochemistry and phosphorus sorption characteristics of Mgeni catchment sedimentsen_ZA
dc.typeMaster Thesis
dc.type.qualificationlevelMasters
dc.type.qualificationnameMScen_ZA
uct.type.filetypeText
uct.type.filetypeImage
uct.type.publicationResearchen_ZA
uct.type.resourceThesisen_ZA
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