Adsorption and Desorption Behaviors of Sr on Montmorillonite: A Triple Sr Isotope Perspective

Hou Chun Liu, Jia You Hsieh, Yen Hong Chen, Chen Feng You, Wei Teh Jiang, Hsin Yi Wen

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

6 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Montmorillonite is a widespread mineral, which affects the migration of Sr in the critical zone. Hydrochemical factors influencing Sr adsorption have been evaluated in the literature through laboratory batch experiments. Since those experiments were conducted using high-concentration and high-purity standard solutions, the influences of chemical matrices or element relative concentrations in water remain unclear. Here, we reassessed the adsorption and desorption behaviors of Sr on montmorillonite using natural waters with various chemical matrices and ionic strengths. Triple Sr isotopes (87Sr/86Sr and δ88/86Sr) were used to trace the exchange processes between the minerals and the waters. Adsorption and desorption occurred in all processed samples, but to varying degrees. These phenomena (especially desorption) were principally controlled by the ionic competition of divalent ions (i.e., Ca and Mg), rather than by ionic strength. Sr isotope fractionation occurred during adsorption. Isotopically lighter Sr was preferentially adsorbed: the mean Δ88/86Srmineral-water (a value independent from the clay type) was -0.17‰. Consequently, water δ88/86Sr depended on both the mixing of mineral-bound and initial water Sr and on the degree of Sr adsorption; moreover, the exchange process was a reversible reaction and reached its chemical and isotopic equilibrium within a short time.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)2250-2260
Number of pages11
JournalACS Earth and Space Chemistry
Volume6
Issue number9
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2022 Sept 15

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Geochemistry and Petrology
  • Atmospheric Science
  • Space and Planetary Science

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