Sorption and retardation of strontium in saturated Chinese loess: experimental results and model analysis

Geological burial and landfill have been widely practiced for disposal of nuclear wastes. However, radionuclides in the waste leachate from landfill facilities can contaminate soil and groundwater. Chinese loess is widely distributed in China and has been involved in large-scale disposal of nuclear wastes. Consequently, there has been an urgent need for understanding and predicting the fate and transport of contaminants in both vadose and saturated zones in the loess. In this paper, the distribution coefficient (Kd) values of Strontium between a Chinese loess and groundwater were determined in batch experiments. The isotherm could be described with nearly linear isotherm model, which resulted in a Kd value of 40.0 cm3/g. Based on this Kd value, the retardation factor (Rd, the ratio of pore water velocity to solute transport velocity) value was calculated to be 112.6. As an alternative approach, the Rd value was also determined through independent column experiments and transport modeling. Bromide (Br−) was used as a non-reactive tracer, and reagent SrCl2 was used as a surrogate for the radioactive isotope (99Sr) in the experiment because they share the same adsorption and transportation characteristics. An equilibrium-based model and a two-region non-equilibrium model were employed to interpret the column sorption data of Sr. The computer program, CXTFIT 2.1, was used to estimate the parameters by simulating the breakthrough and retention curves of Br and Sr, respectively. The resultant D (dispersion coefficient) value for Sr transport was much lower than that of Br−, indicating the important effect of chemical non-equilibrium of Sr in the loess system. The observed Sr retention curves in the loess were best modeled by the two-site transport model. The Rd value determined from batch equilibrium tests differed markedly from that determined from the column transport experiments, and the Rd value decreased with increasing pore-water velocity. The relationship between D and pore water flow velocity (v) was determined as a D = 1.192v1.26. The results from this work indicate that the strong flow and non-equilibrium effects on the transport parameters (Rd and D) must be taken into account in Sr transport modeling.

► We elucidate the principal processes of Sr through saturated Chinese loess.
► Two sites model offered much improved fitting to the data than the linear equilibrium.
► The Rd value determined from batch and column experiment had a great difference.
► The Rd values decreased with increasing water velocity on saturated Chinese loess.