Research on the Mathematical Model of Local Equilibrium in the Top-Blown Smelting Process of Electronic Waste

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

The manuscript is clear and of good quality. There are some unclear points that need to be repaired and state more precisely. I am sending a few comments:

Line 135-137:

The heat in the furnace is ensured only by exothermic reactions from the burden (e.g. by burning of plastics?), or even additional fuels (e.g. by burning of natural gas?). Please specify.

Line 167:

Reaction time (1 millisecond) is shown on the basis of experiments or based on theory? Please add the reference.

Line 179:

Is it correct to use the same reaction time for all reaction zones when burning and melting inhomogeneous and heterogeneous burden?

Line 185:

Too simplify the model. In addition to reactions of burden with oxygen – air (m+V), other reactions (e.g., formation of slag, segregation of metal and oxidic parts = m+m), reaction between gaseous components = V+V, etc.) are carried out.

Line 209:

Add expression of equation 5 to text (similarly to equation 4). Standard equation 5 state should be expressed using activity and consequently using activity coefficient and mole fraction (or concentration).

Line 270 (Table 1):

Activity coefficient is the expression of real state deviation from ideal state and depends on many parameters, e.g. concentrations of ions in solution, electric charges in solutions, diameter of ions, etc. Please supplement and a more detailed specify calculation of the activity coefficient.

Line 271:

Please add basic chemical reactions for process description.

Line 274 (Table 2):

Please control values in Table 2.

Line 276:

Add chapter Materials and Methods and move some methodics from part 4.4. Test case.

Line 292-293:

It is not clear whether it is a composition of limestone with 86 wt% CaCO3 and iron powder with 95 wt% Fe. Please specify.

Line 296 (Table 3):

Organisms – organic? Please specify the amount of organic matter in copper-clad laminate. According to analysis in the first line of Table 3 is it approximately 25 wt%.

Line 299:

Correct wok - work.

Line 332-338:

Add methodics to chapter Materials and Methods.

Line 336-338:

Where are the results of phase analysis (XRD) and microstructures (SEM-EDS) in the manuscript?

Line 350 (Table 4):

correct smoke to off-gas (please use for all parts of the manuscript)

Line 361 (Table 5):

I think that in Table 5 is element composition (XRF) and individual oxides are only stoichiometrically recalculated. If XRD analysis would be realized, a certain amount of complex compounds, e.g. calciumsilicates will be in a slag. It is also likely that part Fe in the dust will be in oxidic form, not only in metallic form.

Line 391 (Figure 5):

Very high match and correlation. When composed of a metal, it is still probable, but very many factors that influence for slag creation and for its quantity and composition. On the Figure 5d is the composition of the oxides in a slag, not a phases. If phase composition would be realized, calciumsilicates could be certainly identified.

Author Response

Please see the attachment. Thank you !

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 2 Report

The reviewer cannot find any scientific discussion and contribution to the metallurgical and recycling community. 

Author Response

Please see the attachment. Thank you !

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 3 Report

Some comments are attached.

Comments for author File: Comments.pdf

Author Response

Please see the attachment. Thank you !

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Round 2

Reviewer 2 Report

Appropriately improved.