Study of Steel Slag Eroded by Oxalic Acid and Recovery of Leachate

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

The article is interesting and presents several pertinent and useful points for new readers. Some comments to improve the quality of the survey:

- Abstract: include the research objectives and novelties. Also include the main results obtained, if possible in numerical form, and highlight the main conclusions of the research.

- In the introduction, the authors need to add some information. Note for example: “The application of steel slag in road engineering mainly includes using steel slag powder and steel slag aggregate”. There are other possible applications for this material, such as in activated alkali cements, where pH is a key point. I recommend the article: 10.1016/j.cscm.2021.e00723 which addresses this type of application. Please include this application in your manuscript.

- At the end of the introduction, make it clear to the readers of the article what are the applications proposed in the research by the authors. It is important that future readers of the manuscript fully understand the knowledge gaps explored in the research.

- In the Raw materials section, include other important material information: fineness or granulometry; specific mass or density.

- 2.4.Recovery craft of leachate: organize this section more concisely; highlight only the methodological information of your article.

- In section 3 it is important to compare the results obtained with other similar surveys. Note that in the current format the authors do not compare the main information obtained with other published research in the area that present equivalent methods. This makes it difficult for future readers of the survey to understand the discussion. Please, in your revised version, present comparisons between the results obtained and similar research.

- 3.1.2 Phase composition and microstructure of steel slag: In this section, explain the importance of each component detected for the applications proposed in the research.

- “Steel slag has been subjected to a high temperature above 1600℃. During the cooling process, a large number of stable or unstable structures will be formed”. Please explain in your text why this happens. This is important information in the research and is not properly explained by the authors.

- Indicate the scale of Figure 10 and Figure 14.

- In the section “3.3 Recovery effect of leachate”, make clear the importance of this analysis for the use of Steel Slag. I find it difficult to understand this section and its importance to the text of the manuscript. Therefore, I recommend that the authors make this clear in the text of the article.

- Review your conclusions based on previous comments.

Author Response

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Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 2 Report

 

1.Please specify the purpose of the paper.

2. What is the novelty of the paper?

3. What is the added value of the paper?

4. In the chapter "Materials and methods" please specify the methodology for steel slag aggregate sampling, preparation and characterization.

5. Please include the:

- methods;

- standards;

- and equipment used for characterization of the steel slag.

6. Insert a flow chart for experimental research.

7. “The leachate is mainly composed of calcium ions and iron ions, which are recovered by ethanol and ammonia to obtain calcium oxalate, ferrous oxalate, ammonium oxalate and metal hydroxide.” – Please insert the chemical reactions in the paper.

8. The experimental results obtained must be compared with the results presented in the literature.

9. The authors should refine the abstract and the conclusions.

Author Response

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Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 3 Report

This is interesting and timely work. Some comments:

1. Abstract: how about the strength and adhesion properties of steel slags after erosion?

2. One restriction of using steel slag in civil engineering is the swelling issues, what do the authors consider this problem?

3. Introduction: the second paragraph should be reorganized. Current restrictions and drawbacks of using steel slags in different fields should be mentioned, and then this study should focus on solving these issues.

4. Why Oxalic Acid was selected not another Acid?

5. Which type of steel slag is, EAFSS, BOFSS, BFSS, or others?

6. Line 93: please include the reference here.

7. The analysis is overall reliable.

8. Title needs to be revised, mechanism is too general.

 

Author Response

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Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 4 Report

The paper presents a good topic related to. Mechanism of Steel Slag Eroded by Oxalic Acid and Recovery  of Leachate. The attached file contains many comments to improve the paper before publication.

Comments for author File: Comments.pdf

Author Response

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Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Round 2

Reviewer 1 Report

The authors responded to all comments appropriately.

Author Response

请参阅附件

Author Response File: Author Response.doc

Reviewer 2 Report

1. Please specify the purpose of the paper.

 

4. In the chapter "Materials and methods" please specify the methodology for steel slag aggregate sampling, preparation and characterization (XRD, XRF, SEM, BET, VK-150, MPI and EDX).

 

5. Please include the:

-methods;

-standards;

-and equipment used for characterization (XRD, XRF, SEM, BET, VK-150, MPI and EDX) of the steel slag.

Lines 121-122 “The selected particle size was 4.75-16 mm.” Explain why?

Author Response

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Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 3 Report

Thanks to the author's hard work. please cite the previous studies on different acids. No further review process is needed.

Author Response

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Reviewer 4 Report

The author has addressed all the comments of the reviewers. Therefore, the revised manuscript can be accepted for the publication in J. Sustainabilityر

Author Response

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Round 3

Reviewer 2 Report

4. In the chapter "Materials and methods" please specify the methodology for steel slag aggregate sampling, preparation and characterization (XRD, XRF, SEM, BET, VK-150, MPI and EDX).

 

5. Please include the:

-methods;

-standards;

-and equipment used for characterization (XRD, XRF, SEM, BET, VK-150, MPI and EDX) of the steel slag.

Lines 121-122 “The selected particle size was 4.75-16 mm.” Explain why?

Author Response

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Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Round 4

Reviewer 2 Report

Dear Authors,

Please answer the comments addressed point by point.

4. In the chapter "Materials and methods" please specify the methodology for steel slag aggregate

(4.1) sampling;

(4.2) preparation and

(4.3) characterization (XRD, XRF, SEM, BET, VK-150, MPI and EDX).

5. Please include the:

(5.1) methods;

(5.2) standards;

(5.3) and equipment used for characterization (XRD, XRF, SEM, BET, VK-150, MPI and EDX) of the steel slag.

(5.4) Lines 121-122 “The selected particle size was 4.75-16 mm.” Explain why?

Author Response

Please see the attachment

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf