Prediction of cavity growth rate during underground coal gasification using multiple regression analysis

During underground coal gasification （UCG）, whereby coal is converted to syngas in situ, a cavity is formed in the coal seam. The cavity growth rate （CGR） or the moving rate of the gasification face is affected by controllable （operation pressure, gasification time, geometry of UCG panel） and uncontrollable （coal seam properties） factors. The CGR is usually predicted by mathematical models and laboratory experiments, which are time consuming, cumbersome and expensive. In this paper, a new simple model for CGR is developed using non-linear regression analysis, based on data from 1 l UCG field trials. The empirical model compares satisfactorily with Perkins model and can reliably predict CGR.

Physical vapor transport crystal growth of ZnO

Zinc oxide（ZnO） has a wide band gap, high stability and a high thermal operating range that makes it a suitable material as a semiconductor for fabricating light emitting diodes（LEDs） and laser diodes, photodiodes, power diodes and other semiconductor devices. Recently, a new crystal growth for producing ZnO crystal boules was developed, which was physical vapor transport（PVT）, at temperatures exceeding 1500 ？C under a certain system pressure. ZnO crystal wafers in sizes up to 50 mm in diameter were produced. The conditions of ZnO crystal growth, growth rate and the quality of ZnO crystal were analyzed. Results from crystal growth and material characterization are presented and discussed. Our research results suggest that the novel crystal growth technique is a viable production technique for producing ZnO crystals and substrates for semiconductor device applications.

A comparison on the phytoremediation ability of triazophos by different macrophytes

The strategy of choosing suitable plants should receive great performance in phytoremediation of surface water polluted by triazophos （O,O-diethyl-O-（1-phenyl- 1,2,4-triazol-3-base） sulfur phosphate, TAP）, which is an organophosphorus pesticide widespread applied for agriculture in China and moderately toxic to higher animal and fish. The tolerance, uptake, transformation and removal of TAP by twelve species of macrophytes were examined in a hydroponic system and a comprehensive score （CS） of five parameters （relative growth rate （RGR）, biomass, root/shoot ratio, removal capacity （RC）, and bio-concentration factor （BCF）） by factor analysis was employed to screen the potential macrophyte species for TAP phytoremediation. The results showed that Thalia dealbata, Cyperus alternifolius, Canna indica and Acorus calamus had higher RGR values, indicating these four species having stronger growth capacity under TAP stress. The higher RC loading in Iris pseudacorus and Cyperus rotundus were 42.11 and 24.63μg/（g fw.day）, respectively. The highest values of BCF occurred in A. calamus （1.17）, and TF occurred in Eichhornia crassipes （2.14）. Biomass and root/shoot ratio of plant showed significant positive correlation with first-order kinetic constant of TAP removal in the hydroponic system, indicating that plant biomass and root system play important roles in remediation of TAP. Five plant species including C. alternifolius, A. calamus, T. dealbata, C. indica and Typha orientalis, which owned higher CS, would be potential species for TAP phytoremediation of contaminated water bodies.