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The geochemistry and phosphorus sorption characteristics of Mgeni catchment sediments
Includes bibliographical references.
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| Main Author: | |
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| Other Authors: | |
| Format: | Thesis |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Department of Geological Sciences
2016
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| _version_ | 1867613230554152960 |
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| access_status_str | Open Access |
| author | Hounsome, Robin Simon |
| author2 | Fey, Martin V |
| author_browse | Fey, Martin V Hounsome, Robin Simon |
| author_facet | Fey, Martin V Hounsome, Robin Simon |
| author_sort | Hounsome, Robin Simon |
| collection | Thesis |
| description | Includes bibliographical references. |
| format | Thesis |
| id | oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/20189 |
| institution | University of Cape Town (South Africa) |
| language | eng |
| last_indexed | 2026-06-10T12:32:50.328Z |
| license_str | Not specified — see source repository |
| provenance_str_mv | Harvested via OAI-PMH from UCTD — University of Cape Town Open Access Repository |
| publishDate | 2016 |
| publishDateRange | 2016 |
| publishDateSort | 2016 |
| publisher | Department of Geological Sciences |
| publisherStr | Department of Geological Sciences |
| record_format | dspace |
| source_str | UCTD — University of Cape Town Open Access Repository |
| spelling | oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/20189 The geochemistry and phosphorus sorption characteristics of Mgeni catchment sediments Hounsome, Robin Simon Fey, Martin V Geological Sciences Includes bibliographical references. 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. 2016-07-04T08:41:55Z 2016-07-04T08:41:55Z 1995 Master Thesis Masters MSc http://hdl.handle.net/11427/20189 eng application/pdf Department of Geological Sciences Faculty of Science University of Cape Town |
| spellingShingle | Geological Sciences Hounsome, Robin Simon The geochemistry and phosphorus sorption characteristics of Mgeni catchment sediments |
| thesis_degree_str | Master's |
| title | The geochemistry and phosphorus sorption characteristics of Mgeni catchment sediments |
| title_full | The geochemistry and phosphorus sorption characteristics of Mgeni catchment sediments |
| title_fullStr | The geochemistry and phosphorus sorption characteristics of Mgeni catchment sediments |
| title_full_unstemmed | The geochemistry and phosphorus sorption characteristics of Mgeni catchment sediments |
| title_short | The geochemistry and phosphorus sorption characteristics of Mgeni catchment sediments |
| title_sort | geochemistry and phosphorus sorption characteristics of mgeni catchment sediments |
| topic | Geological Sciences |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/11427/20189 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT hounsomerobinsimon thegeochemistryandphosphorussorptioncharacteristicsofmgenicatchmentsediments AT hounsomerobinsimon geochemistryandphosphorussorptioncharacteristicsofmgenicatchmentsediments |