Comments on using of “pseudo-second-order rate equation” in Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry, Volume 283

Abstract

Accuracy of referencing is important for the transmission of scientific knowledge. However, an unacceptable rate of citation and quotation errors has been found in the literature [1, 2]. Greater emphasis and responsibility must be placed on authors to check the accuracy of cited references in their submitted manuscripts [2]. In Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry, Volume 283, two articles, entitled ‘‘influence of contact time, pH, soil humic/ fulvic acids, ionic strength and temperature on sorption of U(VI) onto MX-80 bentonite’’ [3] and ‘‘effect of pH, fulvic acid and temperature on sorption of Th(IV) on zirconium oxophosphate’’ [4], presented a ‘‘pseudo-second-order rate equation,’’ but cited 2 and 3 secondary material, respectively, as references. In these two articles, the authors presented the ‘‘pseudosecond-order rate equation’’ with equation t qt 1⁄4 1 2kqe þ t qe while in fact, the definition of the equation for the adsorption systems of divalent metal ions using sphagnum moss peat has been presented by Ho [5], and this expression has also been published in 1996 [6]. A modified equation was presented in 1998 to correct a mistake in the previous paper published in 1996 [7, 8]. Two most suggested papers for the pseudo-second-order kinetic equation were published in 1984 and 1995 by Blanchard et al. [10] and Ho [5, 9], respectively. Blanchard et al. noticed the overall exchange reaction of NH4 ? ions fixed in zeolite by divalent metallic ions in the solution using a second-order kinetic model 1 n0 n ð Þ a 1⁄4 Kt where n is amount of M 2? fixed or the amount of NH4 ? released at each instant, n0 is exchange capacity, and K is rate constant [10]. Ho used the pseudo-second-order kinetic model to the divalent metal ions/sphagnum moss peat adsorption system. The adsorption involved not only cation exchange but also chemical bonding [5, 11]. The pseudo-second-order kinetic model