Transformation Processes for Energy Production Alternatives from Different Biomass Sources in the Highlands and Semi-Desert Areas of Mexico
, Artemio Carrillo-Parra 2,*, Lourdes DÃaz-Jiménez 1, Lidia Rosaura Salas-Cruz 3, Rigoberto Rosales-Serna 4,* and Maginot Ngangyo-Heya 3,*
Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
This manuscript introduced different biomass sources in Mexico and feasible processing method to produce solid biofuels. In fact, I do not know much about biomass in Mexico, so I obtained abundant information from the text. I think it will help more people to understand biomass sources in Mexico and supply new idea about the production of biofuels and biomaterials.
1. Bio-fuels include gas, liquid, and solid fuels, while this review focused on the solid fuels. This point is suggested to state at the end of "introduction" section. 2. In Figure 1, it was shown that the bu-products and waste can be further utilized in three ways, including current products, new products, and bio-fuels. I think some examples could be supplemented accordingly for each way. 3. In Table 1, the unit of heat is suggested to be unified as MJ/kg or kcal/kg. 4. The format of the references should be uniform.Author Response
Dear Reviewer, thank you for your revision on our manuscript and all the observations you made us to improve it. The responses to some specific points you raised are as follows:
- Bio-fuels include gas, liquid, and solid fuels, while this review focused on the solid fuels. This point is suggested to state at the end of "introduction" section.
Response. Thank you for your suggestion. It has been included, as you can see at the end of introduction section.
- In Figure 1, it was shown that the bu-products and waste can be further utilized in three ways, including current products, new products, and bio-fuels. I think some examples could be supplemented accordingly for each way.
Response. Thank you for your valuable observation. The examples of tequila and mezcal production have been mentionned, as you can see in the new versión.
- In Table 1, the unit of heat is suggested to be unified as MJ/kg or kcal/kg. 4. The format of the references should be uniform.
Response. Thank you for your valuable suggestion. The units in kcal/kg have been converted to MJ/kg, and the references uniformed to the same format.
Reviewer 2 Report
Minor revision
Please check page numbering, all the pages have the same page number?
P2 line 51 Spanish msnm? (meters above sea level)
Table 1. rows 7 through10 please convert kcal/kg to MJ/kg for consistency
P10 lines 309-312 why is the text in different format?
Major revision
Please revise Table 1 to add missing information about the estimated amount of biomass available both per hectare and total annual in the region described. These data are vital for energy evaluation. Only 4 of the 21 categories identified in Table 1 have ton/hectare estimates.
The manuscript is well written and structured.
Author Response
Dear Reviewer, thank you for your revision on our manuscript and all the observations you made us to improve it.
Some specific points you raised were addressed as answered below:
Minor revision
Please check page numbering, all the pages have the same page number?
Response. Thank for your observation. It is a problem of the Microsoft Word template that the journal provides for the preparation of the manuscript. It will be resolved before publishing, if the article is accepted.
P2 line 51 Spanish msnm? (meters above sea level) Thank you! It has been corrected.
Table 1. rows 7 through10 please convert kcal/kg to MJ/kg for consistency.
Done! Thank you.
P10 lines 309-312 why is the text in different format?
The format has been uniformed in all the text. Thank you.
Major revision
Please revise Table 1 to add missing information about the estimated amount of biomass available both per hectare and total annual in the region described. These data are vital for energy evaluation. Only 4 of the 21 categories identified in Table 1 have ton/hectare estimates.
Response. Thank you for your valuable observation. The missing information has been added, as you can in table 1 of the new versión.
Reviewer 3 Report
The authors submitted the manuscripts entitled “Transformation processes for energy production alternatives from different biomass sources in the highlands and semi-desert areas of Mexico”. I would recommend that the paper could be published elsewhere. My main comments and questions are as follows:
1. The overall review is like a technical report. It does not match the scope of this journal.
2. The motivation is fine but the contents are trivial. The mainly showing photos cannot match the scope of the journal.
3. The data are insufficient and insignificant. The authors should provide more scientific and fundamental data/discussion.
4. Biochar contents are needed to be added/identified.
5. Format of references style/place in tables need to be unified.
6. The Graphical Abstract is needed.
7. The authors should check the format of the references.
8. English correction is recommended since there are many unclear descriptions/typos, such as no need dot in the title, need a space between numbers and units, “kcal” vs “Kcal”…etc.
Author Response
Dear Reviewer, thank for your revision on our manuscript and all the valuable observatios you made us to improve it.
Our responses to some specific points you raised are as the following:
- The overall review is like a technical report. It does not match the scope of this journal.
Response. It is a contribution to a special issue on Biomass Energy Resources, and before submitting the manuscript, we have consulted the editors, who confirmed that the work matches their objectives.
- The motivation is fine but the contents are trivial. The mainly showing photos cannot match the scope of the journal.
Response. Apart from the photos, there are tables that present important data on the analyzed biomass resources, as well as figures on some transformation processes of said materials...
- The data are insufficient and insignificant. The authors should provide more scientific and fundamental data/discussion.
Response. Missing information have been added in table 1, concerning the residues generated for each type of biomass resource, as well as the form of analyzed biofuels.
- Biochar contents are needed to be added/identified.
Response. Some information about biochar production has been included in table 1, together with the information already contained in the text on the types of biofuels, where charcoal is mentioned.
- Format of references style/place in tables need to be unified.
Response. Thank you! The format has been unified, as you can see in the new version.
- The Graphical Abstract is needed.
Response. Thank you! In the requirements of the special issue, graphical abstrat was not indicated as mandatory
- The authors should check the format of the references.
Response. Done! Thank you!
- English correction is recommended since there are many unclear descriptions/typos, such as no need dot in the title, need a space between numbers and units, “kcal” vs “Kcal”…etc.
Response.Thank you for your comments. The dots have been in all the titles, as well as the spaces between numbers and units.
Reviewer 4 Report
The manuscript scope is dealing with review of the discern potential sources of biomass and their corresponding alternatives for transformation, with a particular emphasis on energy generation within the Mexican highlands and semi-desert regions. Methodologically, this review was conducted by reviewing various search engines, identifying articles related to energy production, the transformation processes and the obtained product, establishing the relevance of each contribution, and including the information that was deemed pertinent. However, there are some minor comments may improve the quality of the manuscript such as the following:
1. Abbreviations and symbols section should be added
2. The lambed references in the introduction section should be removed
3. The conclusion section should be replaced to be a “final remark” section, which introducing some recommendation for future work activity in the manuscript activity
Author Response
Dear Reviewer, thank for your revisions on our manuscript and all the valuable observatiosn you made us to improve it.
Our responses to some specific points you raised are as the following:
- Abbreviations and symbols section should be added
Response. In the requirements of this special issue, it was not indicated that they are mandatory.
- The lambed references in the introduction section should be removed
Response. Thanks for the comment. We couldn't understand what you mean by "lambed references". However, we have made all the changes you suggested, as have the other reviewers, and what we have detected during that process.
- The conclusion section should be replaced to be a “final remark” section, which introducing some recommendation for future work activity in the manuscript activity.
Response. Thank you. The word “conclusion” has been replaced with “final remark”.
Round 2
Reviewer 2 Report
The authors have revised the manuscript adequately.
Reviewer 3 Report
The MS is fine.
