N Doped Activated Biochar from Pyrolyzing Wood Powder for Prompt BPA Removal via Peroxymonosulfate Activation
Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
This work can be published after major revision, taking into account:
-The main unclear issue is related to the “ROS identification “ including the singlet oxygen generation and its role in the present system. Accordingly, clearer data are needed to describe the above mentioned process ( lines 12, 264-269, 264 -269, 299 -300). Radical trapping experiments should be also described. Please, provide details about the ROS generation in the investigated catalytic process
- Please provide details and spectra concerning the BPA monitoring and the presumable degradation pathway.
Author Response
This work can be published after major revision, taking into account:
- The main unclear issue is related to the “ROS identification” including the singlet oxygen generation and its role in the present system. Accordingly, clearer data are needed to describe the above mentioned process ( lines 12, 264-269, 264 -269, 299 -300). Radical trapping experiments should be also described. Please, provide details about the ROS generation in the investigated catalytic process
Ans: The authors thank the reviewer for this comment. ESR spectra has been conducted for better understanding the singlet oxygen generation process. More discussion has also been added into the text.
- Please provide details and spectra concerning the BPA monitoring and the presumable degradation pathway.
Ans: This comment is highly appreciated. The TOC has been conducted for better understanding the BPA degradation mechanism. It was obtained from the results that after 30 min of degradation, more than 55% of the TOC was removed by N-PPB600, indicating that the BPA has been degraded into small molecules in N-PPB600/PMS system and finally mineralized into inorganic molecules. More discussion has been added into the text.
Author Response File: 
Author Response.pdf
Reviewer 2 Report
The subject matter is appropriate for Catalysis. The work is written in appropriate style. This is a good summary of experimental results obtained on the topic mentioned in the title. The given results, in my opinion, are innovative enough to warrant publication in Catalysis.
Author Response
The subject matter is appropriate for Catalysis. The work is written in appropriate style. This is a good summary of experimental results obtained on the topic mentioned in the title. The given results, in my opinion, are innovative enough to warrant publication in Catalysts.
Ans: The authors thank the reviewer for improving the quality of our study.
Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Reviewer 3 Report
This manuscript reports that ‘N doped activated biochar from pyrolyzing wood powder for 2 prompt BPA removal via peroxymonosulfate activation’. The experimental works needed minor tests. Therefore, it is recommended to be accepted in Catalysts after addressing the following comments.
Some specific comments are as follows.
1) Add some more references (Reported Biochar based catalysts for pollutants removal) in the second paragraph of the introduction part.
2) What is the effect of the catalyst in adsorption analysis?
3) There are some grammar mistakes.
4) Can you justify radicals’ analysis by EPR spectra?
5) Reduce your similarities index
Author Response
This manuscript reports that ‘N doped activated biochar from pyrolyzing wood powder for prompt BPA removal via peroxymonosulfate activation’. The experimental works needed minor tests. Therefore, it is recommended to be accepted in Catalysts after addressing the following comments.
Some specific comments are as follows.
1) Add some more references (Reported Biochar based catalysts for pollutants removal) in the second paragraph of the introduction part.
Ans: The authors thank the reviewer for this comment. More references have been added into the introduction part.
2) What is the effect of the catalyst in adsorption analysis?
Ans: This comment is appreciated. The adsorption process is to accumulate the adsorbed pollutant molecules to the active sites, which accelerate the pollutant degradation speed as a result. It has been shown in Fig. 9 that ~80% of BPA can be adsorbed by AN-PPB600 in the first 30 min, while no more than 10% of BPA can be adsorbed by N-PP600. More discussion has also been added into the text for better understanding.
3) There are some grammar mistakes.
Ans: The authors thank the reviewer for careful reading. The English of this manuscript has been revised.
4) Can you justify radicals’ analysis by EPR spectra?
Ans: The authors thank the reviewer for this comment. The ESR analysis has been conducted with the results shown in Fig 7(b). Relevant discussion has also been added into the text.
5) Reduce your similarities index.
Ans: The authors thank the reviewer for careful reading. The authors have revised the manuscript to reduce the similarities index.
Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Round 2
Reviewer 1 Report
This work can be accepted in present form
