Elemental, Oxidative and Functional Group Characteristics of Sediments in the Industrial Marine area in Tuzla Aydinli Bay, Istanbul, Turkey Between 2016 and 2020

Abstract

This study aimed to examine particle and surface characteristics of sediments from three sampling areas‒the industrial marine area in Aydinli Bay, the Marmara Sea, and the river tributaries of Aydinli Bay in Istanbul, Turkey‒over a period of five years (2016-2020). Since elemental composition and surface functional groups onto sediments characterize sorption of organic and inorganic substances, the study revealed that C, O, Si, and Al were common elements of sediments and Ti, S and Mg were at a relatively low level. The C = O and O-H related groups were at a higher level in the river tributaries and the Marmara Sea than Aydinli Bay. These functional groups have indicated the oxidative or weathering potential of particles. Moreover, the mineralogical nature of the Al-O, Fe-O and Si-O compounds were at a higher level in Aydinli Bay compared to the other sampling fields. Another important surface characteristic was the oxygen to carbon ratio which showed that the oxidation state was higher in the river tributaries.