Green Synthesis of Zinc Oxide Particles Using Cladophora glomerata L. (Kütz) Extract: Comparative Study of Crystal Structure, Surface Chemistry, and Antimicrobial Efficacy with Different Zinc Precursors
Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
Comments and Suggestions for Authors- You probably uploaded the wrong file, please correct your file. This is not possible.
- Why were only two zinc precursors (zinc acetate and zinc chloride) selected? Have the authors considered using other common precursors like zinc nitrate or zinc sulfate for comparison?
- Have the authors conducted any zeta potential or DLS (dynamic light scattering) analysis to assess the stability and dispersion behavior of ZnO nanoparticles in suspension?
- The authors claim no previous study investigated ZnO synthesis using Cladophora glomerata and these two precursors—how do they confirm this? Could the authors provide a more detailed literature gap analysis?
- Could the authors provide particle size distribution histograms from SEM images to better support claims about size uniformity?
- Did the authors test multiple concentrations in the agar well diffusion assay (as done in MIC), or was only one dose used? Clarifying this would strengthen dose-response insights.
- Why was vancomycin chosen as a control? Were other antibiotics (e.g., ampicillin, gentamicin) considered for broader benchmarking?
Author Response
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Author Response File: 
Author Response.pdf
Reviewer 2 Report
Comments and Suggestions for AuthorsComments are provided in attachment.
Comments for author File: Comments.pdf
Author Response
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Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Reviewer 3 Report
Comments and Suggestions for AuthorsDear authors,
I have the following remarks:
1) row 66 - the citation should be at the end of the sentence.
2) row 82 - technically the zinc ions don't get reduced since their oxidation number don't change.
3) row 187-190 - font is different
4) row 128 - did you used the same batch of extract for all the experiments?
5) If you have annealed the samples at 400 °C for 30 min what type of organic molecules do you expect to be present at the surface?
6) Fig. 1 - I don't see any peaks for ZnO nanoparticles in the line denotes as ZnCl2.
7) row 203-207 - font correction
8) Fig. 2 (a) and (c) - which structures on the image are ZnO NPs?
9) row 222 - you say water vibration but it is written C-H
10) where does the water vibrations originate from if the sample was annealed at 400C?
11) In the case of Zn(Ac)2 as a precursor - how can you be sure that ZnO NPs formation is due to the plant extract and not just the thermal decomposition of Zn(Ac)2 at 400 C?
Kind regard,
Author Response
Please see the attachment.
Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Round 2
Reviewer 2 Report
Comments and Suggestions for AuthorsNo comments
