Biocrude Production Using a Novel Cyanobacterium: Pilot-Scale Cultivation and Lipid Extraction via Hydrothermal Liquefaction

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

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Comments for author File: Comments.pdf

Author Response

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Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 2 Report

The manuscript entitled "Biocrude Production Using a Novel Cyanobacterium: Pilot-scale Cultivation and Lipid Extraction via Hydrothermal Liquefaction " is interesting, as suggestions could be considered:

-To increase the number of keywords

-In the introduction place in the references in square brackets [ ] and make a description of the importance of the scaled up

-In the section of materials and methods, Page 2, line 97 What is the effect of 7- or 10-day growth?
-A picture of the bioreactor could be added.

-A review of the journal's guidelines for tables and references is required.

Author Response

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Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 3 Report

The manuscript of Gichuki et al. presents few results. The main relevance of the study is the cultivation at different scales of a novel cyanobacterium with a short life cycle and resistance to temperature variation. The mentioned points in the attached file should be addressed and the work should be considered after major revision before recommending its publication in Sustainability.

Comments for author File: Comments.pdf

Author Response

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Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Round 2

Reviewer 1 Report

Dear Authors,

I have carefully checked your answers to my previous comments and corresponding improvements to the manuscript and I agree with your changes. Only two observations: When you state "Conversely, only biochar samples contained C=O and -CH bonds suggesting the presence of acid anhydrides in this sample", if the commented absorption band is centered at 1700 cm-1, this is generally assessed to stretching of C=O of carboxylic groups (please correct and add a reference to justify). Moreover, when you state: "FT-IR results also indicated that phosphate groups were unaffected during the hydrothermal liquefaction process", this is a too strong statement and should be adequately demonstrated by discussing more in-depth the FT-IR spectrum (position and intensity of the absorption bands of phosphates), otherwise it should be removed.

Best regards

Author Response

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Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 2 Report

None

Author Response

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Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 3 Report

The authors have adequately considered the suggestions made after reviewing the first version of the manuscript. The draft now has sufficient information and discussion to support the conclusions and can be considered for publication in Sustainability.

Author Response

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Reviewer Comments Round 2

Reviewer 3

The authors have adequately considered the suggestions made after reviewing the first version of the manuscript. The draft now has sufficient information and discussion to support the conclusions and can be considered for publication in Sustainability.

Thank you.

Marked box for minor spell check

The reviewer’s suggestion is well taken. We have conducted an additional spell check to identify and correct any remaining errors.

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf