Determination of Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons Concentration in Coastal Seawater of Teluk Batik Beach, Perak, Malaysia

Abstract

The study aims to determine Total Petroleum Hydrocarbon (TPH) status in seawater from Teluk Batik beach seawater. In July 2018, fishing vessel sunk two nautical miles off Pematang Damar Laut, a coastal village within the town of George Town, Penang Malaysia, which also impacted the coastline of Perak State. Approximately six tons of diesel and hundreds of liters of fuel oil drifted from the Penang sea to the Perak coast. On further subsequent wave action the TPH concentrations in seawater fluctuated over time. In the coastal water of Teluk Batik Beach, Perak, Malaysia, grab samples were taken from surface seawater for determining the TPH concentrations in November and December 2019. The TPH in seawater was determined by the extractable solvent (Hexane) and the additional petroleum hydrocarbons by the Infrared (IR) method. The values of TPH ranged from 91 to 503 mg/L. Compared to the standards in Malaysian waters, the TPH levels found in this study were high, indicating serious pollution of TPH in the area under study.