Obtaining Sustainable Electrical Energy from Pepper Waste

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

Comment:

Currently, two significant problems involve the government, population, and environment: the accelerated increase in organic waste and the need to replace conventional energy with environmentally sustainable energy. The sustainable use of organic waste is being intensely investigated to generate energy plants that produce alternative sustainable electrical energy beneficial to the population at low cost. For this reason, this research uses pepper waste as fuel in single-chamber microbial fuel cells manufactured at low cost as its primary objective. The maximum values of electric current (5.118 ± 0.065 mA) and electric potential (1.018 ± 0.101 V) were shown on the fourteenth day, with optimal operating pH of 7.141 ± 0.134 and electrical conductivity of 112.846 ± 4.888 mS/cm. Likewise, a reduction in COD was observed from 1210.15 ± 0.89 mg/L to 190.36 ± 16.58 mg/L in the 35 days of monitoring and with a maximum ORP of 426.995 ± 8.615 mV, whose internal resistance was 33.541 ± 2.471 Ω. The peak power density was 154.142 ± 8.151 mW/cm2 at a current density of 4.834 A/cm2, and the Rossellomorea marisflavi strain was identified with 99.57% identity.

From my side, this is an interesting work; however, it still should be revised carefully before it can be considered.

1). The authors are suggested to reorganize the introduction to highlight the novelty and academic contribution.

2). I do not like this abstract. Basically, a good abstract should contain background, state of the art, methodology, Innovation points, results and contribution. Actually, I did not see the state of the art, i.e., why this work is novelty and Worth studying..?

3). Page 7. Table 1. Can you revise it into 3 line table format???

4). Conclusions. The last paragraph.. “For future work, the standardization of pH to the optimal value recorded in this research is recommended, as well as coating the zinc electrode with some material that is not harmful to the microorganisms to avoid the corrosion recorded in other investigations. As well as carrying out research on the absorption of heavy metals using pepper and this type of MFC design as organic matter because, in the literature, it has been found that cells with a reduced COD percentage, such as the one reported in this research, They may have the ability to reduce some heavy metals as well.” I do not like this. Please carefully consider whether this paragraph can be deleted. In other words, this paragraph destroy your contribution, right??>

Can be polised further.

Author Response

Dear colleague, I hope you are in good health. The authors appreciate his comments to improve our manuscript. Changes have been made and comments answered:

1). The authors are suggested to reorganize the introduction to highlight the novelty and academic contribution.
Ans. Some changes have been made in the introduction, in order not to distract the work and the novelty was added in line 78-84.

2). I do not like this abstract. Basically, a good abstract should contain background, state of the art, methodology, Innovation points, results and contribution. Actually, I did not see the state of the art, i.e., why this work is novelty and Worth studying..?
Ans. It was placed in the following text in the introduction: The novelty of this research is given by the use of pepper waste as fuel in the generation of bioelectricity, giving added value to these types of waste, benefiting farmers and companies dedicated to export and import of these fruits, because they will be able to generate your own electrical energy using your own waste at a lower cost.
3). Page 7. Table 1. Can you review it into 3 line table format???
Ans. corrected
4). Conclusions. The last paragraph.. “For future work, the standardization of pH to the optimal value recorded in this research is recommended, as well as coating the zinc electrode with some material that is not harmful to the microorganisms to avoid the corrosion recorded in other investigations . As well as carrying out research on the absorption of heavy metals using pepper and this type of MFC design as organic matter because, in the literature, it has been found that cells with a reduced COD percentage, such as the one reported in this research, They may have the ability to reduce some heavy metals as well.” I do not like this. Please carefully consider whether this paragraph can be deleted. In other words, this paragraph destroy your contribution, right??>
Ans. Ok, it was deleted.

Best regards(Editado)Recuperar original

Reviewer 2 Report

I revivewed the manuscript entitled " Obtaining sustainable electrical energy from pepper waste". The current approach is intersting and important. I would likw for it acceptance after minor revision. 

1. Please describe the imprtance of this study, please explain the detailed novelty of this study

2. Why author choosed pepper waste, is there any speciifc veriety of pepper author used or would like to suggest.

3. Please describe the role of elctrode ehuch are generating electericity form waste.

4. Please check the figure and table captions.

Minor editing of English language required

Author Response

Dear colleague, I hope you are in good health. The authors appreciate his comments to improve our manuscript. Changes have been made and comments answered:

1. Describe the importance of this study, explain the detailed novelty of this study.
Answer. The novelty of the present study is that no report has been published on the use of pepper residue as fuel in single-chamber microbial fuel cells, where carbon and zinc electrodes were placed vertically to obtain maximum MFC efficiency. The study identified the microorganisms attached to the biofilm responsible for capturing electrons. This scientific report is the first research document that uses this technology with this type of substrate.

2. Why did the author choose pepper waste? Is there a specific variety of pepper that the author has used or would like to suggest?
Answer.
- Peppers were chosen because, this season, this fruit is harvested in our town and the waste generated and thrown away is abundant and noticeable to the sight and smell.
- Peppers of various colors (green, red and yellow) have been used because they are the most commercial in the town.
There is a great variety of peppers,
3. Describe the role of electrodes that generate electricity from waste.
Answer. All part of the microorganisms present in the waste, these exoelectrogenic microorganisms generate electrons during the process of their metabolisms, the microorganisms grow within polymeric substances that adhere to the electrodes forming the biofilm. As they are attached to the anodic electrode, and generate electrons, the electrode captures these electrons and through an external circuit (with a conductive material such as copper) they are transferred to the cathodic electrode, which is where they are reduced. The flow of electrons from the anode to the cathode electrode generates the electric current, therefore the light.
In other words, the electrons are responsible for collecting the electrons, and through them they are transferred from one side to the other, creating the electric current.

4. Check the titles of figures and tables.
Answer. Corrected.

Kind regards

Reviewer 3 Report

In the introduction, Citations and references are essential in an academic text, however, they should be integrated more naturally into sentences to provide a clearer context and to avoid fragmenting the text. It is important to clarify the research objectives and contributions before presenting the methods and results.

Results

After presenting the data, a clear synthesis of their implications and significance in the context of the conducted research should be provided. Additionally, I believe the text could be divided into two or more paragraphs. Presenting too much detailed information consecutively can be exhausting. It's important to provide a concise summary of the key findings and their relevance to the research objectives. This can help readers grasp the main points more easily and understand their significance within the broader context of the study.

Conclusions

Extend the potential implications of the research findings, especially regarding the absorption of heavy metals. Explain how reducing the COD percentage may correlate with the ability to reduce heavy metals and suggest specific avenues for further investigation in this field.

Highlight the importance of the findings in the broader context of waste management and renewable energy.

 Consider condensing some information to make it more concise. Focus on conveying the most critical discoveries made during the experiment.

Author Response

Dear colleague, I hope you are in good health. The authors appreciate his comments to improve our manuscript. Changes have been made and comments answered:

In the introduction, Citations and references are essential in an academic text, however, they should be integrated more naturally into sentences to provide a clearer context and to avoid fragmenting the text. It is important to clarify the research objectives and contributions before presenting the methods and results.

Ans. Changes have been made to the introduction in order to carry out what was suggested.
Results

After presenting the data, a clear synthesis of their implications and significance in the context of the conducted research should be provided. Additionally, I believe the text could be divided into two or more paragraphs. Presenting too much detailed information consecutively can be exhausting. It's important to provide a concise summary of the key findings and their relevance to the research objectives. This can help readers grasp the main points more easily and understand their significance within the broader context of the study.
Ans. Several changes have been made to achieve what was suggested.

Conclusions

Extend the potential implications of the research findings, especially regarding the absorption of heavy metals. Explain how reducing the COD percentage may correlate with the ability to reduce heavy metals and suggest specific avenues for further research in this field.

Highlight the importance of the findings in the broader context of waste management and renewable energy.

   Consider condensing some information to make it more concise. Focus on conveying the most critical discoveries made during the experiment.
Ans. The last paragraph of the previous conclusion was eliminated at the suggestion of another reviewer, but in the current conclusion what you suggested was carried out.

Kind regards

Round 2

Reviewer 1 Report

After revision, the manuscript has been improved significantly.

Now, it can be considered.