Production and Characterization of Polyhydroxyalkanoates from Wastewater via Mixed Microbial Cultures and Microalgae
Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
The work is of good novelty and of high interest. The Title is clear and the Abstract concise.
In the introduction I would like to see the authors stating more data regarding PHA and PHB, their chemical structure, detailed metabolic ways of synthesis, as well as how it it's being hydrolyzed by other bacteria .
Also, I would like to see detailed data regarding bacteria and PHA/B and survey methods such as PHA/B plate assay and others.
"Activated sludge from wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) is a known source of PHAs-storing organisms" state citations.
Line 171 "The PHAs were produced from a mixed microbial culture" which are the strains used? IN DETAIL. This is a critical aspect that has to be stated
Author Response
Please see the attachment
Author Response File: 
Author Response.docx
Reviewer 2 Report
The authors of this manuscript investigated the production and characterization of PHA from wastewater via microalgae and microbial culture, with interesting results, especially on its characterization, but at some places it needs justification. Therefore, I suggest the revisions are required to make this manuscript is suitable and worth to be published in the Sustainability Journal.
- I suggest the authors add the schematic apparatus of the PHA production process in section 2.
- figure 2 shows the VFA composition at different times and the author mention that the Acetic acid composition was decreased later since its conversion to methane started. but some data shows that the acetic acid composition also was increased. Could you explain this?
- In figure 3, the authors explain that by increasing HPr content over HAc, the HV units were increased by both batches. However, there are some exceptions at the ratio of HAc: HPr i.e., 30:70 as mentioned by the author on lines 309-312. Please explain these results clearly.
- On line 470, the authors mentioned that the results of PHA characterization are not significantly different from those obtained with other materials, but the author did not show the comparison and added the references about this statement.
- This manuscript was focused on the characterization of the PHA synthesis from wastewater, but not the feasibility or the sustainability of this production. If the authors want to publish in this journal, I suggest the authors emphasize the study of sustainability of this production as the aims and scoop of this journal.
Author Response
Please see the attachment
Author Response File: Author Response.docx
Round 2
Reviewer 1 Report
The authors have revised their work which I now find suitable for publication.
Reviewer 2 Report
The author has tried to answer all revisions. This discussion on this article is well written and suitable to published in this journal
