Study on Adsorption Performance of Benzoic Acid in Cyclocarya paliurus Extract by Ethyl Cellulose Microspheres

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

The manuscript from Zhao et al. describes the synthesis of the ethylcellulose microspheres (ECM). Further, the synthesized ECM was explored to purify benzoic acid from the crude extract of Cyclocarya paliurus. The study method is valid, reliable, and relevant details are provided to replicate the study. In conclusion, this is an interesting manuscript and deserves publication in this journal with some corrections and suggestions that I consider improvements in the paper.

 

1. Page 6; line 210: “The peaks observed at 2980 cm-1 are due to the C-H stretching vibration in 209 EC and ECM. The characteristic absorption peak that appears around 1745 cm-1 is C═C 210 on the aromatic ring. The authors should explain the source of the aromatic compound in EC and ECM, and relevant reference should be given.   
2.   Page 9; Figure 7: Figure title should include the time at which adsorption was measured. Further, annotation c should be changed to sample adsorption by ECM.

Author Response

Response to Reviewer 1 Comments

Point 1: 1.Page 6; line 210: “The peaks observed at 2980 cm-1 are due to the C-H stretching vibration in 209 EC and ECM. The characteristic absorption peak that appears around 1745 cm-1 is C═C 210 on the aromatic ring. The authors should explain the source of the aromatic compound in EC and ECM, and relevant reference should be given.   2.Page 9; Figure 7: Figure title should include the time at which adsorption was measured. Further, annotation c should be changed to sample adsorption by ECM.

Response 1: Please provide your response for Point 1. (1.In response to the first question, page 10, line 222 ,I have marked the parts in the paper that need to be supplemented in red font, and quoted relevant references. 2.Regarding the second question, I have successfully revised it on page 14 of the paper and marked it in red font)

Author Response File: Author Response.docx

Reviewer 2 Report

The manuscript is interesting because was proposed the ethyl cellulose microspheres (ECM) were prepared by using of the solvent-evaporation method and a method for the separation and purification of benzoic acid from crude extract of Cyclocarya paliurus was estabilished by the ECM and high performance liquid chromatography. However, I have some suggestions to improve the quality of the manuscript:

1. The lines 24 -26 in abstract should be after objective of the work and the mains results of the characterization should be added in the abstract.
2. SEM methodology should be better described and, if possible, it would be interesting to add the size distribution and better discussion of the results.
3. Figure 4 should be improved.
4. The diffractogram should be better discussed.
5. The section 3.2 should be added in supplementary material.
6. The adsorption results and section 3.4.2 should be compared with the literature.

Author Response

Response to Reviewer 2 Comments

Point 2: The manuscript is interesting because was proposed the ethyl cellulose microspheres (ECM) were prepared by using of the solvent-evaporation method and a method for the separation and purification of benzoic acid from crude extract of Cyclocarya paliurus was estabilished by the ECM and high performance liquid chromatography. However, I have some suggestions to improve the quality of the manuscript: 1. The lines 24 -26 in abstract should be after objective of the work and the mains results of the characterization should be added in the abstract. 2. SEM methodology should be better described and, if possible, it would be interesting to add the size distribution and better discussion of the results. 3. Figure 4 should be improved. 4. The diffractogram should be better discussed. 5. The section 3.2 should be added in supplementary material. 6. The adsorption results and section 3.4.2 should be compared with the literature.

Response 2: Please provide your response for Point 2.

(1. The lines 24 -26 in abstract should be after objective of the work and the mains results of the characterization should be added in the abstract. Response: The lines 18 -28 has been adjusted and the mains results of the characterization have been added in the abstract.

2. SEM methodology should be better described and, if possible, it would be interesting to add the size distribution and better discussion of the results. Response: SEM methodology has been further described, and the approximate size distribution of microspheres has been described in line 253-259.

3. Figure 4 should be improved. Response: Figure 4 has been improved in line 264.

4. The diffractogram should be better discussed. Response: The diffractogram have been better discussed in line 266-270.

5. The section 3.2 should be added in supplementary material. Response: The section 3.2 has been added in supplementary material.

6. The adsorption results and section 3.4.2 should be compared with the literature.Response: This was the first time about this study which have no relevant literature can be compared with.)

Reviewer 3 Report

Dear Authors,

The manuscript Study on adsorption performance of benzoic acid in Cyclocarya paliurus extract by ethyl cellulose microspheres that you have presented has an original idea. The method you have proposed you have received over 80% pure product. Also, the method presented by you would be of interest not only to other researchers but also to manufacturers because it is lower cost, nontoxic, high efficiency, and procedural simplicity.
Please correct any typos that I noted in the attached file.

Comments for author File: Comments.pdf

Author Response

I have completed the correction of the revised manuscript and reformatted it

Round 2

Reviewer 2 Report

The suggestions were made and the manuscript can be accepted for publication