Tailoring the Biochar Physicochemical Properties Using a Friendly Eco-Method and Its Application on the Oxidation of the Drug Losartan through Persulfate Activation

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

The submitted manuscript describes the preparation of biochar from spent malt rootlet and it application as catalyst for the degradation of a pharmaceutical substance. The non-agricultural uses of biochar are emerging research fields and are interesting to a wide, multi-disciplinary audience. The methodology is appropriate although some more details should be added. The results are clearly written and correspond to the objectives described earlier. Before publication of the manuscript the following corrections should be performed:

1. The headings of section 3 need correcting, 3.2 appears twice

2. 3.2 Biochar preparation

How was the non-oxygen atmosphere maintainted for pyrolysis of the rootlets ? please add the details

Why did the authors choose the temperature of 850 degrees Celcius for biochar production ?

3. Table 1

Based on these data, the surface area and microporosity of acid-based biochar was increased considerably. Combined with the statement that 'the the macropores seem to be larger than the starting BC", please add a possible explanation of the mechanism and the effect of acid on the biochar structure.

4. lines 166-171 

These should be removed as they correspond to basic theoretical knowledge

5. There are too many Figures in the manuscript

Consider moving Figures 1,2,3,4 and 9 to Supplementary material

 

Author Response

Pls, see the attached file.

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 2 Report

In this work, the modified biochar (BC) including low temperature and dilute acid or base treated BC were characterized and used for the degradation experiment. The acid treated BC exhibited higher degradation of the drug losartan in the presence of persulfate than other treated methods. This manuscript  fits the scope of this journal, and I can recommend it for ccept after some minor revisions.

1. All the treated BC samples should be characterized by XRD and FTIR.

2. The error bars should be added in the experiments. Id the experiments were not repeated , the results were not convincing.

3. The introduction section should be restructured, since too many paragraphs were proposed. Only 4-5 paragraphs are fine.

4. The present results should be compared with other reported modified BC in degradation ability through citeing more recent literature.

5. The English style should be revised carefully.

 

Author Response

Pls, see the attached file.

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf