Montmorillonite dissolution kinetics: Experimental and reactive transport modeling interpretation

1D reactive transport simulations of the experimental data were performed using the Crunchflow code (Steefel et al., 2015) to quantitatively interpret the evolution of the released cations and to elucidate the stoichiometry of the reaction. After the implementation of (i) the obtained f(ΔGr) term in the K-montmorillonte dissolution rate law, (ii) a fraction of highly reactive particles and surfaces and (iii) the cation exchange reactions between the interlayer K+ and the released Al3+, Mg2+, Ca2+ and H+, the simulations agreed with the experimental concentrations at the outlet. This match indicates that fast dissolution of fine particles and highly reactive sites and exchange between the interlayer K and dissolved structural cations (Al and Mg) and protons are responsible for the temporary incongruency of the K-montmorillonite dissolution reaction. As long as dissolution of the bulk sample predominates, the reaction is stoichiometric.