Bibliometric Analysis of Adsorption Literatures: Contribution from Pakistan (1991-2017)

Abstract

In present work, adsorption related research contribution of Pakistani researchers from 1991 to 2017 have been analyzed by bibliometric methods. In total, 1,737 articles were selected through Science Citation Index Expanded (Web of Science) and statistical analysis of selected publications was conducted on the basis of four indicators such as total number of citations since publication to the end of the recent year, the number of citation of an article in recent year only, the total number of citations for an article in its publication year, and the total number of citations per year. A sharp increase in research output was observed after year 2000 which may be credited to reforms of Higher Education Commission in Pakistan. Though Pakistani researchers produced fewer review papers as compared to original research articles, reviews received three fold more citations. Almost 95% adsorption related articles from Pakistan have been published in low impact factor journals. Multidisciplinary chemistry journals published most of adsorption related Pakistani articles with maximum publications (10%) in Journal of the Chemical Society of Pakistan. Among various research institutes, University of Peshawar, Pakistan ranked first on the basis of total number of articles, first author articles, and corresponding author articles. Six most highly cited publications belonged to Pakistan Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (PCSIR). Number of international collaborative publications increased since 1991 to 2017 and resulted in their ratio being higher as compared to single institutional or nationally collaborative publications. The main focus of adsorption related literature from Pakistan since 1991 to 2017 was removal of metallic or dye contaminants from water and/or industrial effluents.