Microanalysis of Suspended Particulates in Water Environment by Scanning Electron Microscope and Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy

Suspended particulate matters in water environment collected from western Xiamen Bay were analyzed using scanning electron microscope(SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy(EDS). The results from SEM show that suspended particulate matters in water from the different depth mainly included diatom and their fragments, regular shape such as blocks, pieces and particles and amorphism particulate matters. EDS analysis shows that Si, O and Al were the main component of suspended particulate matters. Concentrations of Si and Al were generally about 20% and 10%, respectively. No organic particulates were found. The main component of fine grain-size fraction(<63 μm)of surface sediment was consistent with that of the suspended particulate matters.