Journal of Chromatography & Separation Techniques
Open Access

Abstract

Comments on: Simultaneous Separation and Preconcentration of Rare Earth Elements on Activated Carbon for its Determination by ICP-OES in Beneficiation Products

Rathore DPS

Comments on simultaneous separation and preconcentration of rare earth elements on activated carbon/charcoal for its determination by ICP-OES in beneficiation products and different geological matrices has been presented. The manuscript published on benefication products is lacking in any innovation, originality or novelty over the earlier published paper titled “Determination of Rare earth elements in different geological matrices by ICP-AES after solid phase micro extraction on activated charcoal” by Murty, Mohanta and Radhamani published in the journal, Atomic Spectroscopy. There is a repetition of the “The unique feature of the method’ in the above cited manuscript and also in his earlier publication titled “A single stage simultaneous separation and preconcentration of rare earth elements on activated carbon for its determination by ICP-OES after wet ashing–application to soil samples by Chakrapani, Mahanta, Hanuman, Srivastava published in the journal “Exploration and Research for Atomic Minerals on bromoheavies. Moreover, there are contradictory and misleading statements /findings on the role of AC as adsorbent, amount of AC and desorption of REEs from AC in the published papers by Chakrapani et al. [1] and other authors from AMD laboratories. The findings have previously published elsewhere without proper cross referencing /justification in manuscripts. The desorption of REEs from AC simply by treating AC with 3.2 M HNO3 is the best analytical protocol, thus avoiding the tedious and time consuming operation of ashing AC. Moreover, regenerated AC can be re-used for further experiments. Dry-ashing of the charcoal pellet is the alternate option and can be completed in 1 hr. Wet-ashing of charcoal pellet with HNO3 and HClO4 involves toxic acids fuming, is a health hazard and may lead to serious explosions. Separation of rare earth metals through biosorption using low cost biomaterials or modified AC will continue to remain a greatest challenge.