A Novel Process for the On-Site Preparation and Application of Polyferric Chloride (PFC) for Surface Water Treatment
Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
Comments and Suggestions for Authors
After carefully reviewing the manuscript, it should be considered to the below major comments
1. The manuscript does not provide sufficient background information on the current methods and processes used for the treatment of reservoir water. It would be helpful to include a brief overview of the existing methods, including their advantages and limitations, to provide context for the proposed novel process.
2. The manuscript briefly mentions the potential health problems associated with aluminum in treated waters, but does not provide a comprehensive analysis or evidence supporting the need to replace PAC. More information and references should be provided to support this claim.
3. The manuscript claims to compare the effectiveness of PFC with PAC, but only provides limited information on the obtained values for TOC and residual metal concentrations using PAC. A more detailed comparison is needed, including statistical analysis and a broader range of parameters.
4. Insufficient discussion on the individual effects of operating parameters on TOC removal and residual Fe concentration. More in-depth analysis is needed to understand how these parameters influence the performance of PFC.
5.The conclusion section lacks a clear summary of key findings and their implications for practical application. It would be helpful to provide recommendations for further research or potential applications based on the results obtained in this study.
6. The manuscript contains several grammatical errors and unclear sentence structures that make it difficult to understand certain points being made. A thorough proofreading is necessary to improve clarity and readability throughout the manuscript.
The manuscript contains several grammatical errors and unclear sentence structures that make it difficult to understand certain points being made. A thorough proofreading is necessary to improve clarity and readability throughout the manuscript.
Author Response
Please see the attachment
Author Response File: 
Author Response.pdf
Reviewer 2 Report
Comments and Suggestions for AuthorsIn the present manuscript, the authors synthesized polyferric chloride and optimized the operating conditions for its direct utilization in surface water treatment and iron removal. Overall, the study is well-designed and the manuscript is well-written. I just have a few minor comments:
1. Try to use a shorter title.
2. Please add references for lines 49-53.
3. Figure 4(a), cannot see the entire x-axis.
4. Please add error bars to the Figures 4-11.
5. Please add some physiochemical characterizations of the synthesized PFC.
Author Response
Please see the attachment
Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Reviewer 3 Report
Comments and Suggestions for AuthorsJournal Name: sustainability
Recommendation: Minor
Manuscript Id: sustainability-2665909
Comments to Authors
In the manuscript titled, "A novel process for the on-site preparation and application of Polyferric Chloride (PFC) for the treatment of reservoir water; effect of main operating parameters on the removal of humics and residual iron and comparison with PAC", authors discussed demonstrate a novel, patented process for the on-site synthesis and subsequent, direct use of low Fe concentration Polyferric Chloride (PFC), to facilitate the replacement of PAC in surface water treatment for potable use. This work is good and written very well. I enjoyed reading the manuscript.
The following are some specific comments regarding the work covered in this manuscript.
1. Abstract may be somewhat brief.
2. Because of the sudden rise and fall observed in the results, the authors should cite a similar study from previously published research to make their argument stronger.
Given the above-mentioned points, the current version of the manuscript is recommended minor revision before the publication in the sustainability Journal.
Comments for author File: Comments.pdf
Author Response
Please see the attachment
Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Reviewer 4 Report
Comments and Suggestions for AuthorsGeneral comments:
This study explores the replacement of Polyaluminium Chloride (PAC) with pre-polymerized iron (Fe) coagulation agents in water treatment due to concerns about aluminum (Al) in treated water. The research introduces a novel on-site Polyferric Chloride (PFC) synthesis process with low Fe concentrations for surface water treatment. Optimal PFC conditions result in significantly lower residual organic carbon and iron concentrations compared to PAC, indicating its potential as a more efficient and health-conscious alternative for water treatment. The presentation of this work is clear to the readers. This work could be considered to be published on Sustainability after addressing the following concerns:
1. Begin by providing a more comprehensive introduction to the issue at hand, explaining why there is a need to replace PAC with pre-polymerized iron (Fe) coagulants. Include relevant statistics or research findings to underscore the importance of this shift.
2. When discussing health problems associated with aluminum (Al) in treated water, clarify the specific links between Al and neurodegenerative conditions. Mention relevant studies or evidence to support these claims.
3. Elaborate on the patented process for on-site Polyferric Chloride (PFC) synthesis. Provide a step-by-step explanation of how this process works and how it differs from traditional methods, enhancing reader understanding.
4. Discuss the wider implications of your findings, particularly how the use of PFC might impact water treatment processes and human health beyond TOC and Fe concentrations. Address the environmental and economic aspects as well.
5. Improved Clarity in Results: In the section discussing results, ensure that the units of measurement for TOC and residual Fe concentration are clearly stated. Additionally, use quantitative values or percentages to highlight the magnitude of the improvements with PFC compared to PAC.
Comments on the Quality of English LanguageModerate editing of English language required
Author Response
Please see the attachment
Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Round 2
Reviewer 1 Report
Comments and Suggestions for AuthorsInsufficient discussion on the parameters that influence the performance of PFC, is still remain in the revised version.
Therefore, it is need to more pay attention to my previous 4th comment.
To clear understanding, the below comment help to better revision of the manuscript.
The performance of Polyferric Chloride (PFC) for surface water treatment can be influenced by several parameters that should be discussed in the revised version, these parameters including:
PFC dosage, pH level, Water temperature, Turbidity and particle size distribution, Mixing intensity, Presence of organic matter, and Water composition.
Reviewer 4 Report
Comments and Suggestions for AuthorsPlease carefully check the consistency of all data and expressions again
Comments on the Quality of English LanguageMinor editing of English language required
