Determination of Aliphatic and Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in Marine Core Sediments of Johor, Malaysia

Aliphatic hydrocarbons and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were studied in two sediment cores of southern South China Sea of Johor coastal area. The concentrations of the total identified resolved aliphatic hydrocarbons (TiRAHs) in the coastal station (STC104) ranged from 0.35 to 2.07 mu g/g while the offshore station (STC100) varied from 0.05 to 14.7 mu g/g. The concentrations of total PAHs were varied from not detected to 33.9 ng/g. The n-alkanes distribution in STC104 were predominant in short chain carbons from marine productivity, petroleum mixture and minor higher plant input, while STC100 exhibited a bimodal distribution with mixed input of marine and terrestrial origin. PAHs isomer ratios cross-plot have showed mixed input of pyrogenic and petrogenic inputs while perylene was dominated in STC100 followed by fossil fuels and pyrogenic source. Presence of perylene in both cores suggesting the contribution of biogenic sources. Principal component analysis was used to cluster the relationship of the hydrocarbons at both sediment cores.