Factors governing adsorption and distribution of copper in Samut Prakarn coastal sediment, Thailand.

The Chao Phraya River (near Bangkok) discharges into Gulf of Thailand. Sediment in near shore areas of the gulf contained elevated Cu levels as a result of industry and urban inputs into the region. Adsorption and fractionation studies were conducted for determining availability and retention of Cu in the sediment. Adsorption studies showed that the coastal sediment has a very high capacity to adsorb Cu (in a range of 1500-4000 microg g(-1)). The high organic matter content and clay content of the sediment contributed significantly to the binding of Cu. Increased salinity levels up to 50 ppt had no effect on the adsorption of Cu by the sediment. The results from Cu partitioning and adsorption study further indicate that Cu in sediment in this coastal region is not likely to be easily released into the water phase where the Cu could be toxic to aquatic organisms. Result shows over the short term current inputs of Cu in Samut Prakarn Coastal region will be rapidly adsorbed by the sediment with little return into water column.