Electron Beam on Fermentation Medium as an Alternative Disinfection Method for Ethanol Distilleries: A Comprehensive Review

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

This review examines the electron beam technology as an industrial scale disinfection solution and summarizes its advantages. The effectiveness of electron beam treatment in improving fermentation efficiency and reducing pollution loss was proved by an example. Although the author believes that this is a medium disinfection method with great application potential, the use cost is the decisive factor for whether the new technology can be applied to industrial production. In this paper, the author did not make economic evaluation, even a brief cost accounting. Suggested to supplement the relevant content to make the manuscript more convincing.

 

Other suggestions: 

1. It is suggested to change "beam wort" to "fermentation medium" .

2. The number of keywords is large and needs to be streamlined.

3. Please rewrite line 55-57 because its semantics are not clear.

4. Line 58-62 please define "corn ethanol" and "sugar ethanol" in detail to avoid ambiguity.

5. Line 81 Letter l in"ml" needs to be capitalized.

6. What is the specific meaning of line 104 "their"?

Comments on the Quality of English Language

Moderate editing of English language required

Author Response

Please, see the attached file.

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 2 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

Please provide a process flowchart for ethanol production based on corn and sugarcane, and indicate the points that are prone to microbial contamination.

Author Response

Please, see the attached file.

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 3 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

Electron beam wort treatment as an alternative disinfection method for ethanol distilleries: a comprehensive review

 

The review topic explores the significance of electron beam technology as a disinfection solution for large-scale ethanol production from maize and sugarcane, discussing its benefits, drawbacks, and potential for implementation in Brazil. The review is interesting. Authors need to address the comments.

Comments

 

Ø  Line 65: Currently, antibiotics are used to control microorganisms, but in addition to increasing the risk of producing antibiotic-resistant microorganisms, antibiotics also remain in the yeast, which can be used as an ingredient in animal feed- any particular antibiotics that found in the yeast.

Ø  If microbial contamination hinders yeast fermentation efficiency- If microbial contamination is the cause of the issue, how are industry addressing it in the context of large-scale ethanol production?

 

Ø  It is worth noting that industrial ethanol production processes do not require ideal conditions, such as complete inactivation of contaminating microorganisms in the wort, and the fermentation does not have to be under aseptic conditions- If industrial ethanol production techniques do not need optimal conditions for total elimination of contaminating microorganisms in the wort, why should the industry consider investing in Electron beam methods?

Ø  They do not prevent reinfection by Lactobacillus spp., which can form biofilms on the internal surfaces of industrial pipes, becoming even more tolerant to high concentrations of antibiotics- Indeed, it is true. How can one inactivate biofilm-forming Lactobacillus spp. in this scenario?

Ø  Any diagram or illustration demonstrating how Electron beam functions as an alternative disinfection method for ethanol distilleries.

Ø  What would be the cost of implementing this strategy in industry as a replacement for traditional methods?

 

 

 

Author Response

Please, see the attached file.

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Round 2

Reviewer 1 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

The author made extensive revisions to the manuscript.

No comments or suggestions for the authors.

Comments on the Quality of English Language

The author made extensive revisions to the manuscript.

No comments or suggestions for the authors.