Recovery of Materials from Refrigerator: A Study Focused on Product Distribution, Recyclability and LCA Evaluation

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

The paper presents the results of a refrigerator recycling process developed at Rekular GmbH, combining manual dismantling, depollution and mechanical processing techniques.

The paper presents a general review of elements related to refrigerator recycling. However, while similar studies are mentioned in the references, there is no comparison between other results and the results achieved in this paper, so the precise merits of this paper are not easy to determine.

The experimental analysis carried out was thorough and detailed, leading to some interesting results.

The English language used in the paper is very good.

Author Response

Thank you for the review. Please see attached response file.

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 2 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

This is a bold and innovative research project that should lead to further improvements in cleaner, and more efficient production. The authors are upfront in the reporting of commercial involvement and in interest in a mainly good set of results.  Detailed methodology description is thorough and Figure 2 is worth a.  thousand words. That the research was done “inhouse”  within one enterprise reinforces the observation that prioritizing recycling at the design stage is a wholesome strategy.  References to what was not recycled could lead to improvements in future.

No errors of spelling, grammar or punctuation were detected. Please check Heading 3.5 for typo.  

Author Response

Thank you for the review. Please see response file as attached.

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 3 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

1-   This study outlines a recycling initiative employed a combination of manual dismantling, depollution, and mechanical processing techniques conducted at Rekular GmbH, focusing on the recycling of 100 refrigerators.

2-   The title reflects the content of the paper.

3-   The abstract section gives the summary of the work.

4-   The introduction and literature review has been properly done and main aim, scope and significance of the work are clearly explained.

5-   The experimental methodology is straightforward and its description seems adequate for the purpose of the work. However:

Ø  Kindly redesign the Figure 1 (Flow Chart) to be visually and easy understand. The other tables and figures are clear

Ø   Any appropriate standard involved in this recycling process to recover Al, Cu and Fe for comparison and justification?

6-   The results presenting and interpretation are well presented. However:

Ø   Kindly, comment on health & safety issues involved in this recycling procedure.

Ø   This recycling process can be implemented in other countries e.g. developing countries?

Ø   Kindly comment on the main sustainable development pillars on this recycling technique.    

7-   The conclusions perform the findings of the present study and it seems consistent with the results. However, some recommendations for the future work, applications, advantages and disadvantages of this combined recycling technique are recommended to be added at the end of this section.  

8-   The article adequately referenced.

Author Response

Thank you for the review. Please see response file as attached.

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf