Influence of Sorption Intensity on Solute Mobility in a Fractured Formation

Abstract

Diffusive mass transfer between fracture and matrix accompanied with sorption significantly influences the efficiency of natural attenuation in hard rocks. While these processes have extensively been studied in a fractured formation, limited information exists on the sorption nonlinearity. For this purpose, a numerical model is developed that couples matrix diffusion and nonlinear sorption at the scale of a single fracture using the dual-porosity concept. The study is limited to a constant continuous solute source boundary condition. The influence of both favorable and unfavorable sorption intensities on solute mobility is investigated using the method of spatial moments. The differing capacities of available sorption sites between fracture surfaces at the fracture-matrix interface and the solid grain surfaces within the rock matrix result in a slower migration of solutes along the fracture, and a larger amount of diffusive mass transfer away from the high permeability fracture.