A Review on Recent Developments in the Extraction and Identification of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons from Environmental Samples
Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
Comments and Suggestions for AuthorsIn this paper, the authors reported a review of recent developments in the extraction and identification of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons from environmental samples. However, I think the paper is still weak by this current form for publication. Therefore, I recommend the authors to consider the following comments to address after which the manuscript can be accepted for publication.
The English needs to be carefully polished throughout the manuscript .
In title the world "a review of recent developments ............." should be revised with a review on recent developments ........
The abstract should be rewritten well by incorporating some disadvantages of traditional method PAH analysis (chromatographic separation and detection) and advantages of solid phase microextraction (SPME) and accelerated solvent extraction (ASE).
The introduction part should be rewritten by citing some new related research articles. Also need to clarify clearly advantages of solid phase microextraction (SPME) and accelerated solvent extraction (ASE).
For Table 1, author mentioned (Temerdashev, et al., 2022). if it similar to the reference then need to take the permission. However, author to add few more chemical compounds in this table.
From Table 1, need to mention the significance of Kow (log P) in the text.
In table, better to mention all terms in full form rather than short form.
The authors should point out the novelty of this work and compare the present work with previously published work.
In Table 2, need to set properly the first column and if author took this table as it is from the reference than need to obtain permission.
In section "Formation of PAHs", the proper mechanism for the Formation of PAHs using figure.
In table 4, please mention the name of "Extraction technique" in full form.
In section "10 Techniques applied for the determination of PAHs", need to mention the operating conditions, selectivity for size if any.
In section 9 and 10, need to write a critical review by own to provide a proper result and discussion so that the reader should be benefitted rather than just reading.
In section 11. Application of hybrid techniques, need to elaborate by mentioning some chromatograph of GC/MS LCMS from previously published articles.
Conclusion should be presented by adding all the changes mentioned above.
Comments on the Quality of English Languageneed to improve the language properly.
Author Response
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Author Response File: 
Author Response.pdf
Reviewer 2 Report
Comments and Suggestions for AuthorsSee attachment
Comments for author File: Comments.pdf
Author Response
Please see the attachment
Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Reviewer 3 Report
Comments and Suggestions for AuthorsThe review provided identification and extraction of PAHs from environmental samples. The work is substantively correct, however some parts of the work require improvement and should be supplemented with the latest data. The reviewer sends detailed comments below:
· Table 1. - change Kow to Log Kow
· Table 2. -units for ATSDR Water and USEPA Water are not visible
· 8. PAHs as environmental pollutants- The identification of PAHs in the environment requires improvement. The authors provide single results of concentrations in water, sediments, air, soil, and plants. It would be worth focusing on the latest/current studies of the identification of these compounds in environmental matrices, as a rule, the authors cite older results. It is also worth paying attention to what concentrations are identified in different regions of the world. Then it would be more interesting for the reader.
· 8.6. PAHs in humans - Maybe it would be worth expanding the sub-item to include the identification of PAHs in animals? When it comes to humans, it would be worth mentioning the permissible concentration of PAHs in food.
· 9.1. Liquid-liquid extraction- describe in more detail the advantages of the method and its disadvantages and limitations
· 9. Extraction techniques - The authors described mainly conventional extraction methods of PAHs. However, there is a lack of new extraction methods such as magnetic solid phase extraction technique, gas purge-microsyringe extraction (GP-MSE) technique. I ask the authors to review the literature thoroughly and add the latest studies on extraction
· Table 4 and 5 should be combined. Analytical methods are related to PAHs determination methods. In my opinion, if Table 4 were supplemented with the location of environmental samples, recovery, identified concentration and detection technique, the table would be complete. Please also include information from HPLC techniques with different detectors in the table. Then the table would be the strongest point of the publication and would be complete.
· the article requires proofreading by a native speaker, sample language errors:
¾ Line 90 Replace „for determining” with to determining
¾ Line 95 replace „have the ability to undergo” with can udergo
¾ Line 97 replace „behaviour” with behawior
Comments for author File: Comments.pdf
Moderate editing of English language required.
Author Response
Please see the attachment
Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Round 2
Reviewer 1 Report
Comments and Suggestions for Authorscan be accepted now
Comments on the Quality of English Languageneed to rectify some minor errors
Reviewer 2 Report
Comments and Suggestions for AuthorsA small note.
Page 11, 8.3. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in air.
The typical ratio of PAHs in the atmosphere polluted…
Obviously, The typical concentrations of PAHs in the atmosphere are polluted?
Reviewer 3 Report
Comments and Suggestions for AuthorsThe authors responded to all comments and suggestions from the reviewers. The work has been carefully revised. In its current form, the manuscript is of adequate quality and scientific importance. I recommend the article for publication.
