The application of chemometrics in metals source of identification in Brunei Bay surface sediment

Abstract

Abstract Brunei Bay is a unique ecosystem which offer a vast diversity of biology. The current study was carried out to trace the source of metals in the surface sediment of Brunei Bay as a control check on the bay’s ecosystem. The study has analyzed the secondary data using chemometrics analysis to verify and better understand the factors that influence metals distribution in Brunei Bay sediment. Samples were collected several times during 2013 to 2014 using ponar grab at 16 stations within the bay. Samples were then dried, pre-treated, digested and analyzed using Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) in the laboratory. Overall, the mean concentration of metal changed during different sampling periods as the changes was presumed affected by seasonal changes. Furthermore, Al, Zn, Cd, Fe, sediment pH and clay fraction were significantly affected temporally. In identifying the source of metals in Brunei Bay’s sediment, the Pearson correlation has classified natural input of metals and proved that total organic carbon was derived by anthropogenic sources. Moreover, the principal component analysis has simplified the natural input is dominantly affecting the distribution of metals in the bay’s sediment. However, the utilization of marine resources is slightly affecting the bay’s ecosystem which may deteriorate the ecosystem health soon.