Gaseous Emissions from the Composting Process: Controlling Parameters and Strategies of Mitigation
Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
This paper reveals environmental assessment of composting as organic waste management technology for reducing gaseous emissions from composting.
The gaseous emissions from composting processes were investigated by several techniques. The studies were quite systematic and the resulted were well organized by the authors. I’d like to recommend the publication of this paper in processes after revision.
1. The author should provide the influence of pH value in the factors affecting the emissions rate.
2. In section of the factors affecting the emissions rate, the authors should provide the influence of different bacteria in the processes.
3. The authors should explain the detail reaction mechanism in section of factors affecting the emissions rate and the section of mitigation strategies.
4. The authors should provide more new literature in this paper.
Author Response
Reviewer #1
Comments and Suggestions for Authors
This paper reveals environmental assessment of composting as organic waste management technology for reducing gaseous emissions from composting.
The gaseous emissions from composting processes were investigated by several techniques. The studies were quite systematic and the resulted were well organized by the authors. I’d like to recommend the publication of this paper in processes after revision.
The author should provide the influence of pH value in the factors affecting the emissions rate.
A new subsection (subsection 3.6) describing the influence of pH value as a factor affecting the emissions rate has been included in the revised version. Also, pH adjustment as a mitigation strategy is discussed in subsection (4.4) which presents the role of different additives in reducing the rate of emissions.
In section of the factors affecting the emissions rate, the authors should provide the influence of different bacteria in the processes.
An introductory paragraph has been added at the beginning of section 3 which talks about the factors affecting the emissions rate.
The authors should explain the detail reaction mechanism in section of factors affecting the emissions rate and the section of mitigation strategies.
The introductory paragraph in section 3 has been formulated to introduce the influence of different bacteria in the process and reaction mechanisms that result in producing different emissions.
The authors should provide more new literature in this paper.
New references were included in the new revised version (highlighted in red color in the list of references).
Reviewer 2 Report
This study is a comprehensive review in the field of composting and associated GHG emissions and VOC gases. After major revision and addressing the following issues, it can be accepted for publication.
Line 88: Please explain what ME stands for when it is mentioned for the first time in the manuscript.
Lines 86-93: Please explain the mechanism how adding sawdust and straw reduces CH4 and N2O emissions.
Line 115: Please change 2*102 with 2x102.
Line 122: Please round up the GHG value to 1.29 ton CO2-eq
Line 122: Please use subscript for CO2 formula in entire manuscript.
Line 138-139: Please revise the sentence. “…… increases….”
Line 144-146: Please revise this sentence. It does not sound grammatically correct. “…….into the inside of the pile…?”
Line 149: Please revise the sentence. “…… increases….”
Line 162-168: Please specify the temperature values for thermophilic phase.
Line 168: Please use subscript for NH3 formula in entire manuscript.
Lines 183-194: Please give specific moisture content values.
Lines 196-209: Please give specific C:N ratios for optimum composting processes.
Line 236: Please provide the author names or delete “by”.
Lines 240-243: Please revise this sentence. It does not sound grammatically correct.
Line 246: Please revise this sentence. “……has proven its efficiency?..”
Line 249: Please revise this sentence. “…..sawdust and straw for…”
Lines 273-276: Please revise this sentence. It does not sound grammatically correct. Please use subscript for NH3 formula in entire manuscript.
Line 296: Please revise this sentence. “…..to pH of 6…”
Line 299: Please revise this sentence. “….its effectiveness…”
Lines 306-307: Please revise this sentence. It does not sound grammatically correct.
Lines 315-317: Please revise this sentence. It does not sound grammatically correct.
Lines 324-325: Please revise this sentence. It does not sound grammatically correct.
Lines 326-327: Please revise this sentence. It does not sound grammatically correct.
Lines 327-329: Please revise this sentence. It does not sound grammatically correct.
Lines 348-349: Please revise this sentence. It does not sound grammatically correct.
Lines 356-358: Please revise this sentence. “….has been used….”
Lines 358-359: Please revise this sentence. It does not sound grammatically correct.
Lines 361-364: Please revise this sentence. It does not sound grammatically correct.
Line 369: Please revise this sentence. “……..emissions were reduced by…..”
Lines 371-375: Please revise this sentence. It does not sound grammatically correct.
Line 407: Please avoid using words like “anyway”, instead you may use “however”.
Please try to find articles published in "Processes" on "composting and GHG emissions" and reference them in the manuscript.
Author Response
Reviewer # 2
Comments and Suggestions for Authors
This study is a comprehensive review in the field of composting and associated GHG emissions and VOC gases. After major revision and addressing the following issues, it can be accepted for publication.
Line 88: Please explain what ME stands for when it is mentioned for the first time in the manuscript.
A full explanation of ME (mitigation efficiency) has been included.
Lines 86-93: Please explain the mechanism how adding sawdust and straw reduces CH4 and N2O emissions.
The mechanism of sawdust and straw in reducing CH4 and N2O emissions has been clarified in the revised version. “whereas adding sawdust or straw reduced CH4 and N2O emissions by 66.3% and 44.0% respectively as such type of materials enhance the absorption and microbial assimilation of NH4+/NH3”
Line 115: Please change 2*102 with 2x102.
It has been changed as indicated by the reviewer
Line 122: Please round up the GHG value to 1.29 ton CO2-eq
It has been rounded as indicated
Line 122: Please use subscript for CO2 formula in entire manuscript.
It has been revised for the entire manuscript
Line 138-139: Please revise the sentence. “…… increases….”
The sentence has been revised and modified
Line 144-146: Please revise this sentence. It does not sound grammatically correct. “…….into the inside of the pile…?”
The sentence has been revised and modified
Line 149: Please revise the sentence. “…… increases….”
The sentence has been revised and modified
Line 162-168: Please specify the temperature values for thermophilic phase.
The temperature values for thermophilic phase has been included
Line 168: Please use subscript for NH3 formula in entire manuscript
It has been revised for the entire manuscript
Lines 183-194: Please give specific moisture content values.
Specific moisture content values for composting process has been included.
Lines 196-209: Please give specific C:N ratios for optimum composting processes.
The recommended C:N ratios for optimum composting processes has been included.
Line 236: Please provide the author names or delete “by”.
It has been corrected as indicated by the reviewer.
Lines 240-243: Please revise this sentence. It does not sound grammatically correct.
The sentence has been revised and modified.
Line 246: Please revise this sentence. “……has proven its efficiency?..”
The sentence has been revised and modified.
Line 249: Please revise this sentence. “…..sawdust and straw for…”
The sentence has been revised and modified.
Lines 273-276: Please revise this sentence. It does not sound grammatically correct. Please use subscript for NH3 formula in entire manuscript.
The sentence has been revised and modified and subscript for NH3 has been used in entire paper
Line 296: Please revise this sentence. “…..to pH of 6…”
The sentence has been revised and modified.
Line 299: Please revise this sentence. “….its effectiveness…”
The sentence has been revised and modified.
Lines 306-307: Please revise this sentence. It does not sound grammatically correct.
The sentence has been revised and modified.
Lines 315-317: Please revise this sentence. It does not sound grammatically correct
The sentence has been revised and modified.
Lines 324-325: Please revise this sentence. It does not sound grammatically correct.
The sentence has been revised and modified.
Lines 326-327: Please revise this sentence. It does not sound grammatically correct.
The sentence has been revised and modified.
Lines 327-329: Please revise this sentence. It does not sound grammatically correct.
The sentence has been revised and modified.
Lines 348-349: Please revise this sentence. It does not sound grammatically correct.
The sentence has been revised and modified.
Lines 356-358: Please revise this sentence. “….has been used….”
The sentence has been revised and modified.
Lines 358-359: Please revise this sentence. It does not sound grammatically correct.
The sentence has been revised and modified.
Lines 361-364: Please revise this sentence. It does not sound grammatically correct.
The sentence has been revised and modified.
Line 369: Please revise this sentence. “……..emissions were reduced by…..”
The sentence has been revised and modified.
Lines 371-375: Please revise this sentence. It does not sound grammatically correct
The sentence has been revised and modified.
Line 407: Please avoid using words like “anyway”, instead you may use “however”.
It has been changed in the revised version.
Please try to find articles published in "Processes" on "composting and GHG emissions" and reference them in the manuscript.
More references related to the manuscript contents have been included.
Round 2
Reviewer 2 Report
The authors addressed the issues raised.
