The Effects of Acid and Hydrogen Peroxide Stabilizer on the Thermal Hazard of Adipic Acid Green Synthesis

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

The authors proposed a possible mechanism for the catalytic decomposition of H2O2 and calculated the standard enthalpies of production for the decomposition pathways. In their results they showed that the addition of EDTA reduced the autolytic decomposition of hydrogen peroxide and increased the yield of adipic acid. Authors used various equipment and analysis instruments to conduct thermal hazard analysis on the catalytic decomposition reaction of hydrogen peroxide and the green synthesis reaction of adipic acid. The addition of sulphuric acid and EDTA was found to improve the thermal stability of hydrogen peroxide and reduce its ineffective decomposition during the green synthesis reaction. They showed that by optimizing the process conditions, the lowest overall heat release and temperature difference were achieved, resulting in an adipic acid yield of 82.78%. The hazard level of stage A was IV, and it was recommended to improve the heat transfer capacity of the reflux unit. The hazard level of stage B was I, and no measures were needed for the low hazard level. Their findings provide valuable insights into the optimization of the green synthesis process and can guide the safe production of adipic acid.

Author presented the content appropriately. The necessary study was conducted to understand the effect of adding H2O2 stabilizer in adipic acid green synthesis. My questions on the manuscript are given below.

1. How does the pH of the solution affects the catalytic decomposition of H2O2 during the oxidation reaction?

2. What is the conversion rate of H2O2 after 240 minutes of reaction at the 90 deg isothermal stage?

3. What other factors can affect the severity of the reaction runaway besides the adiabatic temperature rise?

4. How accurate is the correction factor for yield in determining the adiabatic temperature rise?

5. Can the process of catalytic oxidation of cyclohexene using H2O2 to synthesize adipic acid be scaled up for industrial use?

 

 

Author Response

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Reviewer 2 Report

Overall, the paper presents a good quality study, describing an innovative synthesis method and comparing it with the traditional method, with clear and well-organized results. However, to improve the paper before publication, please consider the following revisions:

1. The abstract requires significant reconsideration. The first two sentences are just longer versions of the paper title. Consider revising the abstract to provide a concise summary of the study's purpose, methodology, and results, highlighting the key findings and their significance.

2. There are grammatical errors throughout the text, and comma usage needs improvement. For instance, the authors' list and lines 25, 26, and 77 are examples of improper comma usage. Please proofread the entire text, ensuring that the grammar and punctuation are correct.

3. On line 31, please explain what the three wastes are in a couple of sentences. The description is vague, and readers may not understand it.

4. On lines 92-94, consider rewriting the sentence as it is vague and difficult to understand.

5. On line 130, please insert the correct concentration values instead of "xx."

6. On line 183, consider using consistent units throughout the paper to enhance clarity.

7. On line 187, please correct the spelling of "pH."

These revisions will enhance the paper's clarity, readability, and overall quality, making it more suitable for publication.

Author Response

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Author Response File: Author Response.docx

Reviewer 3 Report

The article is interesting, but in my opinion it needs to be expanded with more scientific content and literature. The drawings are poor quality should be improved. In the description of the results, two temperature units are used alternately, these units should be unified. Tables 6,7,8 should be spaced apart. One of the drawings is not numbered on page 12. The article may be considered for publication after making the above corrections.

 

Author Response

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