The Optimization of the Steam-Heat-Treated Process of Rattan (Calamus simplicifolius) Based on the Response Surface Analysis and Its Chemical Changes

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

First of all, I feel obliged to disclose that I have so far had absolutely no experience with the ratan material treated in this manuscript. On the other hand, I can honestly declare my rich experience in the study examining the thermal, hydro-thermal and thermo-hydro-mechanic treatments of beech wood influencing the physical and mechanical properties of this wood. This allowed me to accept the call for preparing a review of this paper.

The paper seems interesting, the authors present a set of relevant results. Nevertheless, I would like to present here several proposals and recommendations.

1.      There has not been specified clearly whether the discussed changes are transient changes in the impact stiffness, or permanent changes generated by influences of the studied parameters. This fact requires a precise specification at the same beginning of the manuscript.

2.      Impact stiffness in bending is an important property. However, as ratan material has been used for manufacturing furniture, it might be interesting to study the shaping potential of this material during bending.

3.      If I understood appropriately, the specimens for impact stiffness testing were round in their cross sections. Then, the Equation 1 is not correct. In this case, the surface (denominator) is not b×h, but p×r².

4.      In context of the conditions of realising the experiment, there arises a question whether the parameters your mean as optimal are optimal really, as your experiment omits the impacts following from interactions between the studied factors, The whole Chapter 3.2.2 and statements in this chapter are questionable.

5.      The results of chemical analyses are important, but there have not been derived relations between chemical changes and impact stiffness.

Author Response

Thank you for your  question, I have revised it in the  thesis.

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 2 Report

The experimental article “Optimization of the Steam Heat-Treated Process of Rattan (Calamus Simplicifolius) Based on the Response Surface Analysis and its Chemical Changes” fully corresponds to the profile of the Forests publication. The article is devoted to the current popular direction of expanding the alternative raw material base. However, the novelty of the research is not obvious and the solution to the problem raises a number of questions. Eliminating the comments below will improve the article and make it more interesting for readers.

Notes:

1) The sentence on lines 39-40 about bamboo is inappropriate. Further, the following sentence is also general and does not relate to the object of study of the article. It would be nice to provide links to the study of rattan by other researchers.

2) The third paragraph of the introduction and further: the authors call the object of study Calamus Simplicifolius, rattan, reed. It is necessary to determine the terminology and adhere to it throughout the text.

3) The introduction is generally uninformative; the work of other researchers studying Calamus Simplicifolius or other types of rattan is not described.

4) Third paragraph of the introduction: the authors write the purpose of the work twice. Repetition must be avoided.

5) In materials and methods, the authors chose conditions that turned out to be optimal. This fact makes us think about the correctness of the choice of modes, given that the data in Table 4 are very close to each other and the leader is not obvious.

Author Response

Thank you for your  question, I have revised it in the  thesis.

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Round 2

Reviewer 2 Report

The authors answered questions and addressed most of the concerns.

The answer to question 5 is confusing:

5) In materials and methods, the authors chose conditions that turned out to be optimal. This fact makes us think about the correctness of the choice of modes, given that the data in Table 4 are very close to each other and the leader is not obvious. Thank you for your question. The data in Table 4 are very close to each other may be because the sugars are not completely broken down and the ash are affected.

So, if sugars are not completely broken down, how do the authors conclude that conditions are optimal?

And reference 28 in the list of literature is also confusing. Is it publicly available?

Author Response

Thank you for your  question. The data in Table 4 are very close to each other may be because the sugars are not completely broken down and the ash are affected. 

In this test, the first macroscopic mechanical test is carried out to optimize the optimal impact toughness (maximum value). Then the causes of mechanical changes are analyzed. It was characterized by the change of component content, XRD and thermogravimetric analysis.

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf