Sorption and desorption of Sr onto a rough single fractured granite

To investigate the migration behavior of Sr (strontium) in granite, a rough-walled single fracture of granite was prepared with the self-built rock splitting apparatus. Surface roughness angle and hydraulic aperture of the fracture were measured by 3D laser scanning and fluid flow experiment, respectively. The sorption and desorption breakthrough experiments of Sr in the single fracture were conducted at different flow rates and initial concentrates of Sr, and the important transport parameters were derived by fitting the BTCs and DPCs. The results suggested that the sorption of Sr onto the fracture surface was a linear and reversible ion-exchange process, unaffected by the variation of flow rate and initial concentrate of Sr. •Surface roughness angle and hydraulic aperture of the fracture were measured by 3D laser scanning and fluid flow experiment, respectively.•The seepage experiment indicated that the flow in this single fracture is laminar and can be described by the modified cubic law.•The sorption and desorption breakthrough experiments of Sr in the single fracture suggested that the sorption of Sr onto the fracture surface is a linear and reversible ion-exchange process, unaffected by the variation of flow rate and initial concentrate of Sr.