The Effect of Temperature and Time of the Hydrothermal Treatment in the SBA-15 Synthesis Process on the Structure and Textural Properties and the Ability to Reduce the Evolution of Tars in Tobacco Smoking

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

Authors described the different parameters to synthesize SBA-15 and their use as catalysts to reduce evolution of tars in Tobacco smoke.

The article is interesting but would deserve some improvements.

check the english style : l.27-28 (as an example)

l.58: add a ref

l.60 : "in a very interesting paper" is not necessary to be written, although it is certainly the case.

l.118: add a ref.

In results and discussion,

Part 3.1: although it is important to show the different parameters, this part could be simplified since it is nothing "new". All could be summarized in this part.

Part 3.2

In all data, when there are reduction (in %). Some values are negative. What is the meaning ? That SBA-15 favor the formation of the studied compounds ? Or that the analytical method is at the limit of detection ?

Trends are interesting and it seems that some conclusions could be given. Authors should be more explicit with the conclusion.

If, as it is claimed, that the idea is to link to the advantage of some SBA-15 synthetic process vs. efficiency, the global energy needed for each SBA-15 could be also indicated.

 

Author Response

Dear Reviewer,

We thank the comments that we that have attended as shown below:

RESPONSE TO REVIEWER 1 COMMENTS:

• Introduction.

            The authors consider that the introduction reflects the background necessary to understand and contextualize the research.

• Check the English style: l.27-18 (as an example).

            The English style has been checked. Sentences in l.27-28, have also been improved.

• L. 58: add a ref.

            A reference has been added in l.59.

• L. 60: “in a very interesting paper” is not necessary to be written, although it is certainly the case.

            “in a very interesting paper” has been deleted in l.59.

• L. 118 add a ref.

            A reference has been added in l.349.

• Part 3.1: although it is important to show the different parameters, this part could be simplified since it is nothing “new”. All could be summarized in this part.

            Part 3.1. (2.1 in the new version) has been simplified accordingly to the reviewer comment and many comments about well-known trends have been removed from the discussion. This discussion has been substituted by lines 84-190.

• In all data, when there are reduction (in %), some values are negative. What is the meaning? That SBA-15 favor the formation of the studied compounds? Or that the analytical method is at the limit of detection?

            Part 3.2. (2.2 in the new version) Negative values in the reductions mean the catalyst favor the corresponding compounds. The catalysts are capable of producing important overall reductions and reductions of most compounds though few of them are favored.

• If, as it is claimed, that the idea is to link to the advantage of some SBA-15 synthetic process vs. efficiency, the global energy needed for each SBA-15 could be also indicated.

            We have included in Table 1 an estimation of the differences in energy required by each synthesis conditions taking as reference the typical synthesis 24/100. Lines 97-106 include some comments at this respect clarifying the relative energy requirements for each synthesis.

• Trends are interesting and it seems that some conclusions could be given. Authors should be more explicit with the conclusion.

            Lines 436-442 include some comments highlighting the conclusions.

 

We hope that the improvements realized in this work will make this research more satisfactory for future readers.

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 2 Report

The paper reports on hydrothermally treated SBA-15 samples for toxicity reductions of cigarette smokes. The topic is interesting and of interest of the catalysts readers. The introduction is rather clear, provided that the aims of the paper should be stated more clearly at the end of the introduction section. The data on SBA-15 and on the smoking experiments are clearly described and fully support the conclusions. The manuscript can thus be accepted for publications, and some minor notes are reported here below.

Minor notes:

Keywrod: “H temperature” and “H time” are not informative as keyword: I sugegsto to change in “hydrothermal condition optimization”or similar or simply remove the these two keywords Line 124. More detail on the apparent density evaluation should be given Line 186 instead of “SBA-15 synthesized”, use “synthesized SBA-15” Figure 1 and Figure 2: I suggest to use thinner lines and/or separate more the various samples to avoid superpositions. These data (around 2theta =1) should not be described as “small angle” usually employed for SAXS but as “low angle” Figure 3: write the time used for Figure 3A and the temperature of 3B in the caption In Figure 13, if the lines are interpolation, the equations and corresponding R2 values for the agreement must be written in the picture or in separated table.

Author Response

Dear Reviewer,

We thank the comments that we that have attended as shown below:

• The introduction is rather clear, provided that the aims of the paper should be stated more clearly at the end of the introduction section. 

            The authors are aware that the end of the introduction section (aims of the paper) is longer than other works. However, since all these materials are not commercialized, it seems relevant to underline that the synthesis of our materials is a requirement to evaluate the influence of the synthesis variables and the properties of the materials on their ability to reduce the toxic compounds in tobacco. In addition, it is important to highlight that our methodology involves a reduction in supernatant, promoting energy efficiency and reducing process costs.

• Keyword: “H temperature” and “H time” are not informative as keyword: I suggest to change in “hydrothermal condition optimization” or similar or simply remove the these two keywords.

            The keywords “H temperature” and “H time” have been replaced by “hydrothermal condition optimization”.

• Line 124. More detail on the apparent density evaluation should be given.

            The procedure of evaluation of apparent density has been detailed in l.358-361.

• Line 186 instead of “SBA-15 synthesized”, use “synthesized SBA-15”.

            In l.84 “synthesized SBA-15” has been used instead “SBA-15 synthesized”.

• Figure 1 and Figure 2: I suggest to use thinner lines and/or separate more the various samples to avoid superpositions. These data (around 2theta =1) should not be described as “small angle” usually employed for SAXS but as “low angle”.

            In Figures 1 and 2 (l.90 and 94), the thicknesses of the graph lines have been reduced according to the reviewer’s notes. The lines have also been reduced in Figures 4 and 5. In the Figures 1 and 2, “Small angle” has been replaced by “Low angle”.

• Figure 3: write the time used for Figure 3A and the temperature of 3B in the caption.

            In the figure caption of Figure 3 (l.133-134) the temperatures and times used have been specified.

• In Figure 13, if the lines are interpolation, the equations and corresponding R2 values for the agreement must be written in the picture or in separated table.

            The lines that appear in Figure 13 are not an interpolation, the lines have been added to facilitate the visualization of the two trends.

 

We hope that the improvements realized in this work will make this research more satisfactory for future readers.

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 3 Report

Dear Authors 

I have read Your manuscript with pleasure - it was very well written in terms of science and editional side. Hence, I recommend strongly this paper for publication in Catalysts Journal.

 

 

Author Response

Dear reviewer,

I am so grateful for your time and dedication in read our work. I am glad you found our work interesting. We hope that this research will also be satisfactory for future readers.

Thank you very much.