Thermal Catalytic Decomposition of Dimethyl Methyl Phosphonate Using CuO-CeO2/γ-Al2O3
Isopescu Raluca
Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
The authors have reported a supported copper–cerium catalyst CuO-CeO2/γ-Al2O3 for the thermal catalytic decomposition of a sarin simulant dimethyl methyl phosphonate (DMMP). The best performance of CuO-5% CeO2/γ-Al2O3 is correlated to the size of the CeO2 grains and the adsorbed oxygen on surface. The work overall is done with care and the manuscript is suitable for publication. A few points, as listed below, may be worth considering for improvement.
The experimental procedure for the synthesis of catalysts reads quite obscure and it would be useful if more specific details can be provided.
Is it possible to manipulate surface adsorbed oxygen without changing CeO2 content?
The authors use terms of “conversion rate” and “conversion ratios”, but really, a simple “conversion” would be sufficient and less confusing.
Author Response
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Reviewer 2 Report
- The experimental procedure should be referenced according to the literature;
- Figures' quality should be improved, since most of them are pixelated;
- The authors should reconsider their classification regarding N2 physisorption isotherms (please consider the following paper https://doi.org/10.1515/pac-2014-1117)
- Table 1 - Mean pore size (nm) should be presented in only two digits;
- Authors should deconvolute the Cu XPS spectra and analyze their different components.
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Reviewer 3 Report
The present study was reviewed. The following must be resolved.
In the ‘’materials and methods’’ section, the used apparatus and work methods should be mentioned in detail. Also, the explanations related to Figures 1, 3, 5, 6 and 7 are incomplete and should be completed. Authors are advised to rewrite the ‘’abstract’’ and ‘’conclusion’’ sections based on the standard. In the introduction part, it is better to use more relevant and practical references. The following items are introduced only for suggestion and the authors are completely free to choose relevant and applicable references:
The Study of kinetic Reaction of the Photocatalytic Elimination of Methyl Orange in the presence of Magnetic Composite of Fe3O4-ZnO Based on Graphene Oxide, Journal of advanced materials and technologies 9 (100931), 49-55; DOI: 10.1088/2053-1591/aacd40; Synthesis of SnO2 and ZnO nanoparticles and SnO2-ZnO hybrid for the photocatalytic oxidation of Methyl Orange, Iran. J. Chem. Eng 12 (3), 96-105; Photocatalytic degradation of methyl orange by ZnO and SnO2 nanoparticles, Young Researchers Club, Islamic Azad University, 1th National Conference of Nanotechnology in Chemistry and Chemical Egineering, Gachsaran, Iran.
Author Response
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Reviewer 4 Report
Excellent work in the field of catalyst poisoning and stability.
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Reviewer 5 Report
The paper is well written. It brings new information related to complex structures used as catalysts. The experimental part is clearly presented. The results obtained stand for the novelty of the research and are useful for new catalysts design.
Nevertheless, some revision of the text is necessary in presenting the “protection time” concept. The text and figure 2 are not corelated. In line 113 you say: “when the conversion rate of DMMP was greater than 99%”, but in fact, as in some other studies using this concept, the conversion drops below 99%.
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Reviewer 6 Report
1- The significance of the work should be addressed in the last paragraph of introduction.
2- What are the advantages of functional groups in FTIR and peaks in XPS? how would be facilitating the thermal catalytic decomposition performance of the catalysts.
3- It is strongly recommended to compare the outcome of the present work with the up to date reference.
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