This dataset contains barium concentration and stable isotope ratio measurements of the adsorbed and dissolved phases associated with batch laboratory adsorption-desorption reactions using common environmental mineral adsorbents (clay minerals: kaolinite & montmorillonite, iron-oxyhydroxides: goethite and ferrihydrite) and surface waters (river water, groundwater and seawater). The experiments systematically changed several variables (reaction duration, adsorbent concentration, water type and the pre-experiment adsorbent cleaning procedure). Barium concentration and stable isotope ratio measurements of the adsorbed and dissolved phases from two Himalayan rivers (Saptakoshi River and Sunkoshi River) are also provided. Full details about this dataset can be found at https://doi.org/10.5285/cfa9abd4-1200-47b6-9553-aa1b6e4d9ffd
