Distribution and sources of dissolved fatty acids in water of Shatt al-Arab estuary and Northwest Arabian Gulf

Abstract EN

One meter water column of the Shatt Al-Arab estuary and Northwest Arabian Gulf was sampled at seven stations during a 14 months period (June 1993-July 1994).

Dissolved fatty acids samples were analyzed to examine water quality.

After filtration, the fatty acids composition of the chloroform-soluble was analyzed in the dissolved fraction by gas chromatography.

Stearic acid had the highest proportion of saturated acids in several samples of dissolved fatty acids followed by heptadecanoic acid and palmitic acid.

Palmitoleic acid, oleic acid and linoleic acid were the most abundant unsaturated acids.

The other saturated and unsaturated acids had medium to low concentrations.

There were significant differences in total fatty acids concentrations of the seven sites.

Regional average total fatty acids ranged from 1.95 μg / l in Summer 1993 to 6.46 μg / l in Winter 1993, while seasonal average total fatty acids ranged from 1.78 μg / l at station 7 to 6.69 μg / l at station 2.