Modification of Polylactide-poly (butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PLA/PBAT) Mixed-Matrix Membranes (MMMs) with Green Banana Peel Additives for Oil Wastewater Treatment

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

Comments to the Authors:

This manuscript focused on the Modification of Polylactide-poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PLA/PBAT) Mixed Matrix Membranes (MMMs) with Green BP NPs Additives for Oil Wastewater Treatment. The authors systematically investigated the effect of adding banana peel on the physicochemical properties and separation performance of PLA/PBAT/BP membranes through FE-SEM, CA, FTIR, tension analysis, and ultrafiltration. However, this manuscript has not proved the significance and the novelty of the study (i.e., why this work is important, how this work is outstanding/innovative compared with existing literature or membranes incorporating banana peel). In addition, there were some issues in this manuscript that need to be addressed. So, I recommend the publication of this manuscript after revision. Specific comments are provided below.

Comment 1. In the Title, the authors used the abbreviation of banana peel nanoparticles (BP NPs), and it is recommended to use the full letters. In addition, full letters and abbreviations (e.g., “Figure” and “Fig.”) were alternated throughout the main text. If abbreviations are used, please keep them consistent.

Comment 2. In the Introduction section, the author only mentioned the application of banana peels in various environments in lines 69-70, and did not review the current research progress of banana peels in mixed matrix membranes. However, there are extensive literature reports on the preparation and characterization of mixed matrix membranes containing banana peel powder and their applications in wastewater treatment. Therefore, the reviewers strongly recommend that the authors add a brief review of this content and state why this work is important and how this work is excellent/innovative compared to existing literature or membranes containing banana peels.

Comment 3. Lines 93-95, “Furthermore, morphological analysis of the banana peel powder was carried out using FT-IR to conduct functional group analyses.” Morphological analysis of the banana peel powder was carried out using FT-IR; it is very confusing. Functional group analysis using FT-IR should belong to chemical structure characterization. Please revise it.

Comment 4. Regarding the discussion in Figure 3, the peak values in the main text (such as 2900 vs. 2927cm^-1; 1400 vs 1464cm^-1) are inconsistent with those in the figure. In addition, the FTIR spectrum of MB4 shows an ambient CO₂ peak around 2330 cm^-1, and it is recommended to mark or remove it.

Comment 5. Regarding the discussion on Figure 10 (A), “The increases in operating pressure led to a raise in the driving force ∆P, resulting in an increased permeate flux across the pore of membrane. At the same time, it caused considerable compaction of the solute layer on the membrane's surface, leading to in enhanced resistance to fouling [75].” “It's because Polymeric chains and pore size may be deformed to some extent when the transmembrane pressure is increased.” Does the increase in operating pressure cause the membrane layer to be compacted, so that the polymer chains and pore sizes deformed to a certain extent? It is recommended that the authors add the pressure dependence results of permeance (e.g., L/(m² h bar)) in Figure 10 for discussion.

Comment 6. Various performance characterizations of membranes should be based on the reproducibility of the membrane. Therefore, it is recommended that the authors add the reproducibility results of PLA/PBAT/BP membrane to Table 2 in the section “3.5 Comparison in relation to other literary works”. Furthermore, it is recommended that other literature on mixed matrix membranes containing BP be added for comparison with this work.

Minor editing of English language required.

Author Response

Attached

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 2 Report

Dear Editor thank you for sending me this manuscript. Here my comments.

1. The authors depicted the chemical structure of the banana peel in Figure 1 (A). However, it is not feasible to represent the complex composition of banana peel with a single formula due to its diverse chemical structures and substances.

2. In line 104-105, it states, "Subsequently, a solution comprising 14% PLA and 4% PBAT was gradually added to the mixture while vigorously stirring in a covered flask for 12 hours, achieving a uniform solution." Is the concentration of PLA and PBAT 14% and 4%, respectively, or are they expressed as weight percent of the total mass?

3. Figure 4 requires a scale bar.

4. Although the authors mentioned that porosity calculations were performed through gravimetric analysis, the manuscript indicates the use of the water absorbency method.

5. The porosity of the membranes was determined by water absorbance. However, it is challenging to ascertain whether the membrane fully absorbed water or partially absorbed it. Therefore, the reliability of this method appears to be low.

Author Response

Attached

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 3 Report

Comments for author File: Comments.pdf

Author Response

Attached

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Round 2

Reviewer 1 Report

The reviewer has carefully read the revised manuscript and responses, however, there are still some comments that have not yet been responded to. The details are as follows: 

In comment 2. “However, there are extensive literature reports on the preparation and characterization of mixed matrix membranes containing banana peel powder and their applications in wastewater treatment. Therefore, the reviewers strongly recommend that the authors add a brief review of this content and state why this work is important and how this work is excellent/innovative compared to existing literature or membranes containing banana peels.”

In comment 5. “Does the increase in operating pressure cause the membrane layer to be compacted, so that the polymer chains and pore sizes deformed to a certain extent? It is recommended that the authors add the pressure dependence results of permeance (e.g., L/(m² h bar)) in Figure 10 for discussion.”

In Comment 6. “Various performance characterizations of membranes should be based on the reproducibility of the membrane. Therefore, it is recommended that the authors add the reproducibility results of PLA/PBAT/BP membrane to Table 2 in the section “3.5 Comparison in relation to other literary works”.”

Therefore, the reviewer cannot make a recommendation for acceptance without receiving a response to the above comments.

Minor editing of English language required.

Author Response

Respond to reviewers' comments

Reviewer 1

Comment 2. In the Introduction section, the author only mentioned the application of banana peels in various environments in lines 69-70, and did not review the current research progress of banana peels in mixed matrix membranes. However, there are extensive literature reports on the preparation and characterization of mixed matrix membranes containing banana peel powder and their applications in wastewater treatment. Therefore, the reviewers strongly recommend that the authors add a brief review of this content and state why this work is important and how this work is excellent/innovative compared to existing literature or membranes containing banana peels.

Response: Thank you for your comment, we do agree with you, therefore we revised the introduction. Please see line 69-72.  It is mentioned why this work is important and how this work is excellent/innovative compared to existing literature or banana peel membranes. Please see line 78-80

Comment 5. Regarding the discussion on Figure 10 (A), “The increases in operating pressure led to a raise in the driving force ∆P, resulting in an increased permeate flux across the pore of membrane. At the same time, it caused considerable compaction of the solute layer on the membrane's surface, leading to in enhanced resistance to fouling [75].” “It's because Polymeric chains and pore size may be deformed to some extent when the transmembrane pressure is increased.” Does the increase in operating pressure cause the membrane layer to be compacted, so that the polymer chains and pore sizes deformed to a certain extent? It is recommended that the authors add the pressure dependence results of permeance (e.g., L/(m2 h bar)) in Figure 10 for discussion.

Response: Thanks to the reviewer; indeed, the paragraph referred to has been modified, please see the line 458-460. Please see paragraph 3.2.2 and Figure 10.

Comment 6. Various performance characterizations of membranes should be based on the reproducibility of the membrane. Therefore, it is recommended that the authors add the reproducibility results of PLA/PBAT/BP membrane to Table 2 in the section “3.5 Comparison in relation to other literary works”. Furthermore, it is recommended that other literature on mixed matrix membranes containing BP be added for comparison with this work.

Response: Thanks to the reviewer; indeed, and to our knowledge, there is no research that has use banana peels in membrane filtration applications to remove oils from water, to make a comparison. Three studies have been added, which looks at how to make PLA with different nanoparticles for treating oily wastewater. Please see revised table in blue

Reviewer 2 Report

Can be accepted in its present form. The authors have modified the manuscript based on the comments.

Author Response

Thank you very much, appreciate your efforts. 

Reviewer 3 Report

Comments for author File: Comments.pdf

Author Response

Reviewer 3

P1-L33 The first line of the introduction paragraph should be unified, and other similar issues

also need to be modified.

P20-L567 The name of Table 2 should start from another row.

Response: Thank you for your good comments.  All comments indicated have been modified. Please see the revised manuscript.

Round 3

Reviewer 1 Report

Please check the attachment.

Comments for author File: Comments.pdf

Author Response

Please find attached our response to the Reviewer 1 comments.

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf