Tetracycline Removal from Water by Adsorption on Hydrochar and Hydrochar-Derived Activated Carbon: Performance, Mechanism, and Cost Calculation
, Hoang Huu Chien 2, Nguyen Quang Thi 2, Nguyen Duy Hai 1,* and Huan-Ping Chao 3,4,*
Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
Minh Ngoc Duong et al. reported “Efficient removal of tetracycline by compound-synthetic sorbent produced from agricultural wastes: Performance assessment, mechanism analysis, and theoretical cost calculation”. The work is publishable in this journal after major revision. The paper need characterization like FTIR, TGA, SEM, TEM etc. otherwise the paper should be rejected. The detail comments and suggestions are below.
1. The title should be attractive. The present title is very simple.
2. The abstract is very poor. Please rewrite and explain it well. English of the manuscript is very weak. Improve it otherwise not accept the paper with the present English.
3. The introduction part is also need more explanation with updated references.
4. Martial part must be separated and mentioned the chemical purity and purchased company. Figure 1, should be in result and discussion part.
5. Explain the synthesis methods not only diagrammatically but in written form too.
6. This work is presented without characterization like FTIR, TGA, SEM, TEM etc. without this characterization the paper should be rejected.
7. Mechanism of interaction should be included.
8. English need improvement throughout the manuscript.
9. Conclusion should be improved.
Author Response
Reply to the reviewers’ comments:
Manuscript ID: sustainability-2093072.
Manuscript Title: “Efficient removal of tetracycline by compound-synthetic sorbent produced from agricultural waste: Performance assessment, mechanism analysis, and theoretical cost calculation”.
Thank you for your editors and reviewers’ comments. The authors carefully and thoroughly address the editors and reviewers’ comments point-by-point here. Changes made to the manuscript are highlighted (with red color) in the manuscript. A revised manuscript is resubmitted.
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Reviewer #1:
- The title should be attractive. The present title is very simple.
Authors’ response:
We have changed the title to “Tetracycline removal from water by adsorption on hydrochar and hydrochar-derived activated carbon: Performance, mechanism, and cost calculation”. The new title can reflect the research content more accurately.
- The abstract is very poor. Please rewrite and explain it well.
Authors’ response:
Thank you for your suggestion. The abstract has been rewritten (see section “Abstract”).
- The introduction part is also need more explanation with updated references.
Authors’ response:
Thank you for your suggestion. The text and information have been added and discussed in introduction part (see section “Introduction”).
- Martial part must be separated and mentioned the chemical purity and purchased company. Figure 1, should be in result and discussion part.
Authors’ response:
Done as request (see section 2 and 3.1). Thank you for your suggestion.
- Explain the synthesis methods not only diagrammatically but in written form too.
Authors’ response:
Per the suggestion, the detailed descriptions of statements have been added to the manuscript. (see section 2.2).
- This work is presented without characterization like FTIR, TGA, SEM, TEM etc. without this characterization the paper should be rejected.
Authors’ response:
For the suggestion, wee have added the SEM images in the revised manuscript (see figure 3 and section 3.2 and 3.3). Because the other characterization has been indicated in other literatures (References 28 and 29), the authors do not repeatedly show them.
- Mechanism of interaction should be included.
Authors’ response:
For the suggestion, the detailed descriptions of statements have been added to the manuscript (see section 3.6 and Figure 7).
- English need improvement throughout the manuscript.
Authors’ response:
Thank you for your suggestion. English of the manuscript have been checked in the whole manuscript.
- Conclusion should be improved.
Authors’ response:
Thank you for your suggestion. Conclusion has been rewritten (see section 4).
Author Response File: 
Author Response.pdf
Reviewer 2 Report
Introduction- Give a shortly analysis - comparison different carbons with high adsorption capacity and yours proposed in this study. Important to appreciate in text and in conclusions the progress and contribution
Try to make a SI for table and other data to simplify understanding your manuscript
Author Response
Reviewer #2:
Comments and Suggestions for Authors:
- Introduction- Give a shortly analysis - comparison different carbons with high adsorption capacity and yours proposed in this study. Important to appreciate in text and in conclusions the progress and contribution.
Authors’ response:
Thank you for your suggestion. The text and information have been added and discussed in the manuscript (see section 1. “Introduction”).
- Try to make a SI for table and other data to simplify understanding your manuscript
Authors’ response:
Done as request. Thank you for your suggestion.
Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Reviewer 3 Report
In this manuscript, the Authors concerned performance assessment, mechanism analysis, and theoretical cost calculation of efficient removal of tetracycline by compound-synthetic sorbent produced from agricultural wastes. The Authors examined the adsorption efficiency and mechanisms of hydrochar and ACs for TC removal, confirmed electrostatic interaction between adsorbent and TC as well as studied in detail the effect of pH on the adsorption capacity of TC and adsorption mechanisms of TC on each adsorbent.
From my point of view, the manuscript is interesting and will attract the interest of many scientists working with such systems. However, the manuscript requires careful editing as there are some minor typos and other flaws. Moreover, moderate editing of English language and style is required.
Author Response
Reviewer #3:
Comments and Suggestions for Authors
In this manuscript, the Authors concerned performance assessment, mechanism analysis, and theoretical cost calculation of efficient removal of tetracycline by compound-synthetic sorbent produced from agricultural wastes. The Authors examined the adsorption efficiency and mechanisms of hydrochar and ACs for TC removal, confirmed electrostatic interaction between adsorbent and TC as well as studied in detail the effect of pH on the adsorption capacity of TC and adsorption mechanisms of TC on each adsorbent.
From my point of view, the manuscript is interesting and will attract the interest of many scientists working with such systems. However, the manuscript requires careful editing as there are some minor typos and other flaws. Moreover, moderate editing of English language and style is required.
Authors’ response:
Thank you for your suggestion. Also, English have been checked in the whole manuscript.
Round 2
Reviewer 1 Report
The author addressed almost all issues in the revised manuscript and now I am going to recommended the manuscript for publication.
Author Response
The authors thank you for the comment.
Reviewer 2 Report
Check word version for publication.
PDF form I received shows texts and sentences not well aligned
Check for minor english phrases
Author Response
Thank you the comment. The authors have checked the words in the manuscript.
