Dissolved and colloidal transport of cesium in natural discrete fractures

Transport of cesium (Cs) was investigated in a saturated natural chalk fracture with an average equivalent hydraulic aperture of 129 microm. The results show that Cs (inflow concentration of 0.22 mmol L(-1)) can be transported in its dissolved form and in association with montmorillonite. Humic acid (HA) did not sorb Cs but enhanced colloid-associated Cs transport by 12.5% in terms of breakthrough curve (BTC) recovery. The BTCs clearly showed desorption of Cs from the fracture walls during the artificial rainwater (ARW)-injection period. Cesium transport associated with montmorillonite colloids was significant, with a maximum colloid-associated Cs C/C(0) (outflow-to-inflow concentration ratio) value of 16.6 +/- 1.1% during the tracer (colloids and LiBr)-injection period. However, the relative contribution of colloid-associated Cs transport to total Cs transport was relatively low, amounting to 10.3 +/- 0.7% and 14.5 +/- 0.7% with montmorillonite (500 mg L(-1)) and the montmorillonite-HA (10 mg L(-1)) mixture, respectively. Readsorption of Cs onto the colloids occurred immediately on switching from the tracer suspension to the background solution of ARW. The significant colloid-associated Cs transport, the stripping effect of Cs from colloids, and the slow desorption of Cs from fracture walls reported in this study have important implications for risk assessments of Cs mobility in fractured carbonatic rocks.