An Overview of the Valorization of Aquatic Plants in Effluent Depuration through Phytoremediation Processes
Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
The authors have prepared an extensive review covering the topic of phytoremediation with the use of aquatic plants. The work covers the problem of phytoremoving many pollutants, recent developments in phytoremediation, identify gaps and propose future developments. The manuscript requires only a few changes to the text. These some suggestions would be found in the attached PDF-file.
Comments for author File: 
Comments.pdf
Author Response
The comments found in the attached manuscript has been taken into account:
Line 89: “Strongly acids” has been replaced by “specific acids”
Table 2 and 4: Text alignment has been corrected.
Reviewer 2 Report
This paper summarized some studies using plant to remove contaminants. This topic is interesting and has essential environmental implication. However, the review is kind of too rough. For example, when discussing about the mechanism of phytoremediation, there was no real mechanism introduced, with only five techniques introduced. Another issue is that from the topic, the paper deals with water pollution but in the main text a lot of contents are about the soil pollution. The authors should make clear the main topic. Further, in the whole paper, bascially no quantitative ananlysis was given, providing limited information for the readers.
I suggest the authors to collect more data and analyze it. The structure should also be re-organized.
The title does not fit the main text. I suggest revise the title.
Fig 1: not related to the paper. I suggest deleting it.
Author Response
I suggest the authors to collect more data and analyze it. The structure should also be re-organized.
Answer: We have tried to improve the manuscript. We hope that the revised version will meet the expectations of the Reviewer
The title does not fit the main text. I suggest revise the title.
Answer: We cannot find a more suitable title. If the Reviewer has a suggestion, we will modify the title accordingly.
Fig 1: not related to the paper. I suggest deleting it.
Answer: According to the Reviewer’s suggestion, the former figure 1 has been deleted.
Reviewer 3 Report
The paper is of interest as a survey of the concept of phytoremediation. The overview of the role of aquatic plants in phytoremediation is particularly useful. What I am missing are citations in paragraphs where claims are made but not attributed to the literature. I suggest that the authors add more references where there are claims made. This is probably the weakest point of the manuscript,. In the attached manuscript, I added comments with suggestions for wording.
The manuscript describes accurately aspects of phytoremediation....
I recommend it for publications with moderate changes in the wording (see attached manuscript) and additional references where they are needed.
Comments for author File: Comments.pdf
Author Response
Answer: Thank you for your positive feedback regarding our paper.
Regarding the comments in the attached manuscript, please find below our answers:
Line 54: the sentence has been modified according to the Reviewer’s suggestion.
Line 62: the full references have been given
Line 64: according to a comment of Reviewer 2, the figure 1 has been deleted.
Line 68: “both” has been deleted
Line 68: the sentence has been corrected according to the Reviewer’s suggestion
Line 68: “techniques” has been replaced by “processes and their selection”
Lines 81-82: the sentence has been improved.
Line 87: “intervene” has been replaced by “are involved”
Line 89: “acidic acids” has been replaced by “specific acids”
Table 1: As suggested, “Characteristics” has been replaced by “Characteristic properties”
Line 100: we agree with the Reviewer’s suggestion and hence “large” has been replaced by “field”
Line 117: According to the Reviewer’s comment, some examples have been added.
Table 2: examples of pollutants have been added for one site
Line 140: The modification was made
Line 141: The modification was made
Lines 146-147: in our opinion, the sentence is too general to need references
Lines 155: the list of factors and indexes can be found in the reference 24
Line 163: The modification was made
Line 176: As suggested, “indestructible” has been replaced by “do not decompose”
Line 177: As suggested, “absorbed” has been replaced by “bioaccumulated”
Line 182: in our opinion, the sentence is too general to need references
Line 198: As suggested, “attacks” has been replaced by “bioaccumulated”
Line 199: in our opinion, the sentence is too general to need references
Line 204: in our opinion, the sentence is too general to need references
Line 213: in our opinion, the sentence is too general to need references
Line 219: the correction was made
Line 228: It was corrected according to the MDPI format
Line 229: “remove” has been replaced by “reduce”
Line 232: it is “expand their use”. Sorry for the mistake
Line 235: in our opinion, the sentence is too general to need references
Line 252: we have tried to improve the paragraph. We hope that the modifications made will meet the expectations of the Reviewer.
Reviewer 4 Report
The work by Khellaf et al. is dealing with an overview on the possible use of aquatic plants for phytoremediation purposes. It is structured as a mini review with a didactic approach able to provide a brief portrait of the potential of plants, with a specific focus on aquatic plants, for the remediation of polluted matrices. In this regard, my main concern regards the point that, following the title, a more detailed paragraph with longer discussion on the utilisation of aquatic plants for phytoremediation (a large body of literature is present on the matter) was to be expected. In other words, given that, as correctly stated, phytoremediation is now well perceived as an ecological option for facing the environmental pollution, less emphasis could be posed on describing the technology itself and more attention could have been devoted to the real focus of the work, i.e. the potential of aquatic plants for phytoremediation.
I have also minor remarks:
L16 Authors should find a different way to express the concept about the positive approach of public opinion towards the unconventional technologies
L29 Throughout the text it is not clear what the word underlining means
L54 Really, phytoremediation has its roots in the studies on metal hyperaccumulation in plants dated back to the half of the past century
L86 I suggest to use “physiological processes” instead of “stage of life cycle”
L88-92 In this paragraph the focus on soil phytoremediation should be specified
L128 More details on these applications of phytoremediation (e.g. web reference) would be helpful for the reader
L137 The tolerance mechanisms in plants towards inorganic and organic pollution, as basic processes for plants for facing the pollutant presence in their growth medium, are not well addressed in this paragraph
L229 I suggest to use “abate” or “reduce” instead of “remove”
L257 Change “contain” with “content”
L 289 I think that the term “recently” is no more suitable to indicate the definition of the phytoremediation principles
Author Response
L16 Authors should find a different way to express the concept about the positive approach of public opinion towards the unconventional technologies
Answer: the confusing term “friends” has been replaced by “actors”.
L29 Throughout the text it is not clear what the word underlining means
Answer: Words’ underlining has been deleted in the revised version
L54 Really, phytoremediation has its roots in the studies on metal hyperaccumulation in plants dated back to the half of the past century
Answer: we agree with the reviewer’s comment
L86 I suggest to use “physiological processes” instead of “stage of life cycle”
Answer: The modification was done.
L88-92 In this paragraph the focus on soil phytoremediation should be specified
Answer: the focus on soil remediation will be specifically developed in another review paper
L128 More details on these applications of phytoremediation (e.g. web reference) would be helpful for the reader
Answer: this Table contains only examples.
L137 The tolerance mechanisms in plants towards inorganic and organic pollution, as basic processes for plants for facing the pollutant presence in their growth medium, are not well addressed in this paragraph
Answer: we agree with the Reviewer’s comment. Tolerance mechanisms in plants Is an important topic, which requires however an important additional work. This perhaps can be included in a subsequent review.
L229 I suggest to use “abate” or “reduce” instead of “remove”
Answer: The modification was done.
L257 Change “contain” with “content”
Answer: The modification was done.
L 289 I think that the term “recently” is no more suitable to indicate the definition of the phytoremediation principles
Answer: The modification was done.
Round 2
Reviewer 2 Report
The authors have well addressed my concerns.
