Effects of an Integrated Carbide Slag-Mushroom Dreg-Calcium Superphosphate Amendment on the Stabilization Process of Pb, Cu, Zn and Cd in Contaminated Soils

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

The manuscript “Effects of integration amendments Carbide Slag - Mushroom Dreg - Calcium Superphosphate on the stabilization process of Pb, Cu, Zn and Cd in the contaminated soils” describes an interesting experimental procedure for treating heavy metals soil contamination. In my opinion it is necessary to rewritten some parts of the manuscript in order to make simpler the read also by no-experts readers. In the actual form the manuscript is more adapted for a specialized journal in soil chemics.

In details

- In the “2. Experimental” I suggest to summarize the paragraphs

2.3. Toxicity characteristic leaching tests

2.4. Selection of proportion by Box-Behnken design

2.5. Batch stabilization experimental design

2.6. Speciation identification of heavy metals

- In the “2. Results and discussion” I suggest to summarize the paragraphs

3.1. Proportion optimization of CS-MD-CSP integration amendments

3.2. Leaching behavior using single and integration stabilizers

3.3. Evaluate of the immobilization ability using CS-MD-CSP integration amendments

In particular it is opportune to introduce the formulas and any other statistical procedure useful to discuss the results in a preliminary paragraph, part of the “2. Experimental”

- The paragraph “4. Conclusions” has to be rewritten for discussing also the further develops or the potential applications of this experimental procedure

Author Response

Please see the attachment.

Author Response File: Author Response.docx

Reviewer 2 Report

This research is very interesting and useful, experimental design was sound, results are thoroughly interpreted, while the text is well-written.

Authors are kindly advised to carefully check English throughout the text (professional editting would be recommended).

Title should be changed into: Effects of an integrated Carbide Slag - Mushroom Dreg - Calcium Superphosphate amendment on stabilization processes of Pb, Cu, Zn, and Cd in contaminated soils.

Table  1 (and other): data should be presented with max 3 significant figures (i.e. 74.8, 5040, 4080, etc.).

Line 128: A total of 17 trial experiments

Line 135: coefficient of determination

Figure 1 should be improved (style).

173: which were named

Author Response

Please see the attachment.

Author Response File: Author Response.docx

Reviewer 3 Report

The submitted paper is technically sound. However, it is one case study among many. The text is equivalent to a satisfying master's thesis. There is no general conclusion that would change the existing view on soil remediation.

 

Author Response

 Thank you for your affirmation.

Round 2

Reviewer 1 Report

After revisions, the paper may be accepted in the present form

Author Response

Thank you for your affirmation.

Reviewer 3 Report

the publication of the text can be recommended in order to reflect its technical merits. The relevance for the journal is not convincing. This point was raised in my previous review and was not commented by the authors or the editors.

Author Response

    Thank you for your valuable suggestion and affirmation. We use the organic and inorganic amendments (CS-MD-CSP) to passivate and stabilize the lead and zinc slag and chimney ash. The experimental results show the leaching toxicity of heavy metals reach the standard (Chinese regulatory limits of national standard GB 5085.3-2007), the immobilization efficiency is maintained above 70% and the pH is increased at the same time. Therefore, the CS-MD-CSP integration amendment has great practical significance. As to the needs of proposition and the limitations of coverage, the manuscript can not provide a complete experimental result. The CS-MD-CSP integration amendment including carbide slag (CS), calcium superphosphate (CSP) and mushroom dreg (MD). Most of the CS in China is industrial solid waste, however, recently CS has been used to replace hydrated lime to ameliorate soil acidity on soil stabilization process due to their similar chemical compositions. Mushroom dreg (MD) is a type of agricultural waste, which is produced after the cultivation of edible fungus. MD have been already widely used as an ameliorant to improve the soil fertility of farmlands in many regions of China. The CS-MD-CSP integration amendment provides a new idea for the reuse of carbide slag and bacterial slag and the potential environmental benefits of the amendment are significant. So we think the manuscript is suitable for the journal and the editor also think the manuscript fits in the scope of the section "Sustainable Chemistry".