Spatial patterns of ephemeral plants in Gurbantünggüt Desert

In the present research, the authors measured parameters of richness, cover and importance value of ephemeral and ephemeroid plants on south-north and east-west transects in the Gurbantünggüt Desert in early spring, and investigated and analyzed the microhabitats, such as terrain, geomorphology, soil physical-chemical properties and crusts. By comparison, the regional differences in the ephemeral distribution in the desert were revealed. The species of ephemeral plants in the south and center are the richest and those in the west are the poorest in the desert. The cover of ephemeral plants in the mid-south is higher than that in the north, and that in the mid-east is higher than that in the west. The response of ephemeral plants to the spatial variation of the desert habitat forms the population-habitst gradient of ephemeral plants. The characteristics are： （1） In the habitat with higher terrain, coarser textured soil with poorer sorting and correspondingly higher organic matter and lower alkali-saline contents, Carex physoides and Eremopyrum orientale are the dominant ephemeral plants; （2） In the dry habitat with lower terrain, looser textured soil, some organic matter, alkali-saline soil, and developed crust, the ephemeral plants Alyssum linifolium and Erodium oxyrrhynchum are of characteristic of drought and alkali-saline tolerance; （3） In the habitat with lower terrain, some water and more alkali-saline soil, the ephemeral plants Neotorularia torulosa and Hypecoum parviflorum being of alkali-saline tolerance are mainly developed. However, most ephemerals are distributed in a habitat order of higher terrain, some organic, and less alkali-saline soil on the above-mentioned ephemeral population-habitst gradient. The spatial gradient of variation in desert microhabitsts is small, and as a whole, the physiological character of mesophytism is represented by the desert ephemerals.     

Responses of ephemeral plant germination and growth to water and heat conditions in the southern part of Gurbantunggut Desert

Ephemeral plants in the southern part of Gurbantunggut Desert were systematically monitored from 2002 to 2004 and the meteorological data and soil moisture during the same period were analyzed. The results show that the ephemeral plants germination and growth are sensitive to the changes of water and heat condition. The time for daily temperature over 0℃ in early spring in 2003 was delayed nearly 10 d compared with that in 2002, while the soil water changed little in the same period. Observation showed that there were 28 ephemeral species germinated in 2002, their life period was about 70 d in spring, and the maximum cover of ephemeral synusia reached 46.4%. However, only 17 ephemeral species germinated in 2003, their life period was about 50 d in spring, and their maximum cover was only 20.8%. The height of ephemeral plants was significantly higher in 2002 than that in 2003. It can be seen that ephemeral plant germination and growth in spring are strongly dependent on temperature. The changes of water conditions can affect ephemerals germination and growth as well. Because no heavy precipitation occurred during summer in 2002, only a few ephemerophytes were observed in autumn after ephemerals completed their life circle in early spring. However, about 60 mm precipitation was recorded from July to August both in 2003 and in 2004. Some ephemerals such as Erodium oxyrrhynchum and Carex physodes, etc. covered the dune surface rapidly with a cover 〉10%. Therefore, the ephemerals not only germinate in autumn after the early spring, some species may germinate in summer if adequate rainfall occurs. The study on responses of ephemerals growth to water and heat conditions not only has a certain ecological significance but also contributes a better understanding to the effect of climate changes on the desert surface stability.     

Diversity of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi associated with desert ephemerals growing under and beyond the canopies of Tamarisk shrubs

The arbuscular mycorrhizal （AM） fungal status of the four most common ephemeral plant species, Chorispora tenella （Pall.） DC., Ceratocephalus testiculatus （Crantz） Bess., Eremopyrum orientale （L.） Jaub et. Spash and Veronica campyIopoda Boiss growing in an area dominated by Tamarisk shrubs （Tamarix spp.） was investigated. Samples of the four ephemerals and their rhizosphere soils were collected from underneath and beyond the canopies of the Tamarisk shrubs. Plant mycorrhizal status and soil AM fungal spore densities and community structures were analyzed and compared under and beyond the shrub canopies. The mycorrhizal colonization rates of the ephemerals and spore densities in their corresponding rhizosphere soils were significantly lower under the shrub canopies than beyond. The number of AM fungal species under the shrubs （12） was also lower than beyond the canopies （19）. When soil properties in the rhizospheres of the four ephemerals were examined, available N and P and total P, organic matter content, total salt content and electrical conductivity （EC） were all higher under the canopies than beyond. In contrast, soil available K and pH showed no such trend. A total of 21 AM fungal species were isolated from rhizosphere soils of the four ephemerals. Five belonged to Acaulospora, one to Archaeospora, thirteen to Glomus and two to Paraglomus. We conclude that the canopies of Tamarix spp. exerted some influence on the AM status of the ephemerals and on the AM fungal communities and some of the properties of their rhizosphere soils.     

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi infection in desert riparian forest and its environmental implications: A case study in the lower reach of Tarim River

This study was conducted on the desert riparian forest along the lower reach of the inland Tarim River, which is located in the arid region of Northwest China. Fifteen plant species in 10 families were collected from five monitoring sections, and examined for the infection ofarbuscular mycorrhizal fungi （AMF）. The impact of different soil factors on AMF infection rate and intensity was compared using the principal component analysis （PCA） method. The results indicate that 11 species are AM and only 4 are non-AM plants. The estimated capacity of AMF infection depends on families of plants and also the parameters （infection rate, infection intensity, fungal spore density） used. The density of fungal spores was relatively higher in Phragmites communis and Populus euphratica in Graminaceae and Salicaceae families, respectively. The infection rate was above 50% in all the AM plants, except Calligonumjunceum. The highest infection rate appeared in Alhagi sparsifolia （97%） and Glycyrrhizainflata （92%）. However, when compared by AMF infection intensity, Tamarix spp. became the top one, followed by Alhagi sparsifolia, and Glycyrrhiza inflata was in the middle range of all the species. The PCA has identified that soil total salt, moisture, organic matter, total nitrogen, total P, available K and pH were closely associated with the AMF infection.     

Analysis of carbon isotope in phytoliths from C3 and C4 plants and modern soils

The analysis of carbon isotope in phytoliths from modern plants and surface soils in China shows that the values of carbon isotope are consistent with those from C3 and C4 plants,and the processes of photosynthesis of the original plants can be clearly identified by carbon isotope in phytoliths.The value of carbon isotope varied from -23.8‰ to -28‰,with the maximum distributed in the latitude zone from 34° N to 40° N in North China and East China areas,and the minimum in the Northeast China and South China regions.The values of carbon of phytoliths tend to increase from low to high and then reduce to low value again as the latitude increases.In the same latitude zone,the carbon isotope in phytoliths from grassland soil under the trees is obviously lower than that from grassland soil without any trees with the difference of 1‰-2‰.     

Characterization of variation induced by low-energy N+ and cloning of differentially expressed cDNA of a mutant in Arabidopsis thaliana

Using Arabidopsis thaliana as experimental materials, the variations induced by low-energy N+ have been investigated. Germination rate of the treated seeds is lower than that of the control, and it decreases with the intensification of the radiation. The phenotypic variations have been observed in M2 plants irradiated with higher doses, such as chlorisis, semilethality, plant morphology, and changes of blooming habit and fertility. In random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis on M2 seedlings, some differences including band deletions or additions are found in treated plants compared to the control and the differences are associated with the radiation doses. One of the M1 plants from the seeds irradiated with the dose of 80×1015 N+/cm2 is a dwarf variant. Its stable M6 generation, mutant T80II, is used to construct subtractive cDNA library and to clone differentially expressed cDNA. A 721 bp cDNA fragment is partly homologous with GRF7 gene.     

The spring soil moisture and the summer rainfall in eastern China

The relation between the soil moisture in spring and the rainfall in summer in eastern China is investi- gated. Results show that the summer rainfall in eastern China is closely related to the spring soil moisture in the area from North China to the lower reaches of Yangtze River (NCYR). When spring soil moisture anomalies over NCYR are positive, the summer precipitation exhibits positive anomalies in Northeast China and the lower reaches of Yangtze River, and negative anomalies in southern China and North China. The higher soil moisture over NCYR cools land surface and reduces the land-sea tem- perature gradient, which weakens East Asian summer monsoon. The western Pacific Subtropical High (WPSH) is located to the south and shifts westward, resulting in more rainfall in the lower reaches of Yangtze River and less in southern China and North China.     

Photosynthesis responses of endemic shrubs of Taklimakan Desert to adverse temperature,humidity and radiation

Under the native habitat conditions, the seasonal gas exchange characteristics of two natural endemic plant species, Calligonum taklimakanensis B.R. Pan & G.M. Shen and Tamarix taklamakanensis M.T. Liu, which are located in the hinterland of the Taklimakan Desert, are measured and compared by Li-6400 photosynthesis system. The results indicate that temperature (℃), solar radiation (PAR), soil water content (SWC), and other environmental factors have obvious seasonal variations and the gas exchange characteristics of two plants have different changes in different growing seasons. For C. taklimakanensis, both in July and September, its daily changes of net photosynthetic rate tend to be obvious double peak curve, but in July its peak appeared earlier. Besides its maximum net photosynthetic rate (Pmax), apparent quantum efficiency (Φ ), range of effective photosynthetic radiation significantly less than that in September. Moreover, its water use efficiency (WUE) in July was also lower than that in September due to the higher transpiration rate (Tr ). For T. taklamakanensis, although its daily change of net photosynthetic rate is a single peak curve in September, its peak time has not changed, and except that its WUE is higher in September like C. taklimakanensis, the maximum net photosynthetic rate (Pmax), apparent quantum effi- ciency (Φ ), light saturation point, and range of effective photosynthetic radiation has not changed or slightly declined. That is to say C. taklimakanensis select a season that habitat was better (like September) to progress relative effectively photosynthesis accumulation, in contrast, T. taklamakanensis still keep a relatively stable photosynthesis rate in different growth seasons. The difference of gas exchange characteristics of the two plants in different seasons shows that adaptation strategies of the two plants to extreme conditions in desert are different. Besides, both the higher photosynthetic accumulation rate and the higher water use efficiency in September also indicate th     

Matrix-bound phosphine: A new form of phosphorus found in sediment of Jiaozhou Bay

Matrix-bound phosphine (PH3),a new form of phosphorus,was found in sediment of Jiaozhou Bay in December 2001,Concentration and distribution of PH3 in different layers of sediment with different stations were analyzed.The results show that PH3 concentrations are various with different layers and different stations.PH3 concentrations in the bottom layer of sediment (20-30 cm) are usually higher than those in the surface layer (0-4cm) ,The highest PH3 concentration in our investigation reaches 685 ng/kg (dry),which is much higher than those in terrestrial paddy soil ,marsh and landfill that have been reported up to now,The correlation analysis indicates that there is no apparent correlation between the concentrations of PH3 and inorganic phosphorus in sediment.However,the correlation between the concentrations of phosphine and organic phosphorus in the bottom layer of sediment is remarkable (R^2=0.83).It is considered that PH3 in sediment of Jiaozhou Bay is mainly produced from the decomposition of organic phosphorus in the anaerobic condition,and so PH3 concentrations are related to organic phosphorus concentration and anaerobic environment in sediment,The discovery of PH3 in sediment will give people some new ideas on the mechanisms of phosphorus supplement and biogeochemical cycle in Jiaozhou Bay.     

Preliminary estimation of the organic carbon pool in China’s wetlands

Accurate estimation of wetland carbon pools is a prerequisite for wetland resource conservation and implementation of carbon sink enhancement plans.The inventory approach is a realistic method for estimating the organic carbon pool in China’s wetlands at the national scale.An updated data and inventory approach were used to estimate the amount of organic carbon stored in China’s wetlands.Primary results are as follows:(1) the organic carbon pool of China’s wetlands is between 5.39 and 7.25 Pg,accounting for 1.3%-3.5% of the global level;(2) the estimated values and percentages of the organic carbon contained in the soil,water and vegetation pools in China’s wetlands are 5.04-6.19 Pg and 85.4%-93.5%,0.22-0.56 Pg and 4.1%-7.7%,0.13-0.50 Pg and 2.4%-6.9%,respectively.The soil organic carbon pool of China’s wetlands is greater than our previous estimate of 3.67 Pg,but is lower than other previous estimates of 12.20 and 8-10 Pg.Based on the discussion and uncertainty analysis,some research areas worthy of future attention are presented.     

Comparison of the carbon isotope composition of total organic carbon and long-chain <Emphasis Type="Italic">n</Emphasis>-alkanes from surface soils in eastern China and their significance

Surface soil samples collected over a high spatial resolution in eastern China were analyzed for carbon isotope composition （δ^13C） of total organic carbon （TOC） and higher plant-derived long-chain n-alkanes, with the latter reported as weighted mean values. The two sets of δ^13C values are significantly correlated and show similar trends in spatial variation. The spatial distribution of δ^13C shows less negative values in the mid-latitudes between 31°N and 40°N and more negative ones at higher and lower latitudes. This is consistent with previously reported carbon isotope data from surface soil phytoliths in the same region and suggests that the mid-latitude area provides relatively favorable growing condi- tions for C4 plants. Furthermore, δ^13C values of both TOC and long-chain n-alkanes from 12 surface soil samples collected from a small grassland in north China displayed similar carbon isotope values and the difference between paired δ^13C of a soil samples remains relatively constant. Our data demonstrate that in eastern China, soil δ^13C composition of both TOC and long-chain n-alkanes is effective indicators of C3/C4 ratios of the prevailing vegetation. This work suggests that -22‰ and -32‰ are good es- timated end members for the weighted mean δ^13C values of long-chain n-alkanes （C27, C29 and C31 n-alkanes） from soils under dominant C4 or C3 vegetation, allowing us to reconstruct paleovegetation trends.     

Soil Organic Carbon Loss under Different Slope Gradients in Loess Hilly Region

Based on field runoff plots observation and sample analysis, the effect of slope gradient on soil organic carbon loss was studied under natural rainfall conditions in loess hilly region. The results showed that with slope gradient increasing （from10° to 30°）, the changing trend of soil erosion intensity （A） was A20°〉A30°〉A15°〉A10°〉A25°, suggesting that slope gradient between 20° and 25° was a critical degree ranger to exist. Soil organic carbon loss was mainly influenced by soil erosion intensity, appearing the same trend as did soil erosion intensity with increasing slope gradient. Soil erosion results in organic carbon enrichment in sediment. Average enrichment ratios of five runoff plots varied from 2.27 to 3.74, and decreased with increasing erosion intensity and slope gradient. The decrease of surface runoff and soil erosion is the key to reduce soil organic carbon loss.     

Growth,physiological characteristics and ion distribution of NaCl stressed Alhagi sparsifolia seedlings

Alhagi sparsifolia is a leguminous perennial desert species that is plays an important role in dune stabilization and revegetation of degraded desert ecosystems. We investigated the effects of three different levels of salinity (50, 150, 250 mmol/L NaCl) on the growth, shoot photosynthetic parameters and salt distribution amongst different plant organs in one-year-old A. sparsifolia seedlings in a pot experiment over a 50 d period. The minimum (predawn) and maximum (midday) water potentials of A. sparsifolia seedlings decreased with the increase of external NaCl concentrations as a consequence of the osmotic or water deficit effect of saline solutions outside the roots. Salinity also reduced gas exchange parameters in A. sparsifolia, with seedlings subjected to salinity having lower photosynthesis rates and reduced stomatal conductances compared to the control. The reductions in photosynthetic rates in high salinity treatments of the A. sparsifolia seedlings were mainly caused by stomatal limitation. Consequently plants growing at greater external NaCl concentrations had significantly lower biomass accumulation compared to the control grown at 50 mmol/L. However, plants exposed to higher salinity were able to maintain growth throughout the experiment but allocated a greater proportion of biomass belowground. Plants exposed to higher external salinity levels had increased concentrations of Na+ and Cl- ions in shoots and roots, suggesting that A. sparsifolia seedlings were utilizing Na+ and Cl- as osmolytes to increase the cellular osmolality and decrease their water potential. We observed the greatest NaCl concentrations in the plants treated with 150 mmol/L NaCl indicating that there may be a threshold level of NaCl that can be tolerated by the plants. In conclusion our results indicate that A. sparsifolia seedlings are moderately salt tolerant. Photosynthetic gas exchange parameters were reduced by greater external salinity but the seedlings maintained substantial photosynthetic rates even under high salinity s     

Arbuscular mycorrhizal associations in the Gurbantunggut Desert

The plants in the Gurbantunggut Desert located in Xinjiang, China are drought adapted species and grow in generally nutrient-poor soils. A survey was conducted in the desert to determine the arbuscular mycorrhizal （AM） status associated with the desert plants which belong to 23 species from 11 families of annuals and perennials. Roots from all plants were examined for the presence of internal and external hyphae, vesicles and coils/arbuscules to determine the status and extent of mycorrhizal colonization. Of the plant species surveyed, 14 （61%） were found to form AM associations, 5 （22%） were possible AM colonized species, and 4 were non-mycorrhizal plants. The proportions of annuals and shrubs forming AM were significantly lower than those of perennials and herbs, respectively. Spore density varied from 5 to 21 per 20 g in soil of root zone. 14 AM fungal taxa in 3 genera were isolated and identified, 10 of which belonged to Glomus, 3 to Acaulospora, and 1 to Archaeospora. Glomus was the dominant genus in all genera identified. G. deserticola and G. etunicatum were the most common taxa isolated, with occurrence frequencies of 77.4% and 74.8%, and relative abundances of 14.4% and 15.5% respectively.     

The ion chemistry of surface and ground waters in the Taklimakan Desert of Tarim Basin, western China

The physio-chemical and chemical features of water in natural conditions are controlled by the weath-ering of bedrocks,local climate,landforms and other geo-environmental parameters. In order to un-derstand the characteristics of water and the origins of the dissolved loads in the rivers and in the ground waters of the Taklimakan Desert,western China,we studied the ions in the water samples col-lected from rivers and wells. We collected water samples from four rivers (Keriya River,Cele River,Tumiya River and Yulongkashi River) in the southern desert and ground water samples from many parts of the desert. Major cations and anions were measured using ion-chromatograph and titration with HCl. The total dissolved solids (TDS),pH and conductivity were examined on site by a portable multi-parameter analyzer. The data show that the water in the rivers of southern Taklimakan is still of fresh water quality and slight alkalinity,although the TDS is comparatively higher than that of many other rivers of the world. The ground water is fresh to slightly saline,with TDS a little higher than that of river water in the study area. The concentration of ions is slightly different between the four rivers in the southern Taklimakan. However,the chemistries of ground water in all samples are to a large degree controlled by sodium and chloride. The ions in the ground water are concluded to be mainly from dissolving of evaporites,consistent with the dry climate in the region,whereas the ions in the rivers are mainly from rock weathering. Low-level human imprints are recognized in the ground water samples also.     

Comparison of the carbon isotope composition of total organic carbon and long-chain n-alkanes from surface soils in eastern China and their significance

Surface soil samples collected over a high spatial resolution in eastern China were analyzed for carbon isotope composition(δ 13C) of total organic carbon(TOC) and higher plant-derived long-chain n-alkanes,with the latter reported as weighted mean values.The two sets of δ 13C values are significantly correlated and show similar trends in spatial variation.The spatial distribution of δ 13C shows less negative values in the mid-latitudes between 31°N and 40°N and more negative ones at higher and lower latitudes.This is consistent with previously reported carbon isotope data from surface soil phytoliths in the same region and suggests that the mid-latitude area provides relatively favorable growing conditions for C4 plants.Furthermore,δ 13C values of both TOC and long-chain n-alkanes from 12 surface soil samples collected from a small grassland in north China displayed similar carbon isotope values and the difference between paired δ 13C of a soil samples remains relatively constant.Our data demonstrate that in eastern China,soil δ 13C composition of both TOC and long-chain n-alkanes is effective indicators of C3/C4 ratios of the prevailing vegetation.This work suggests that -22‰ and -32‰ are good estimated end members for the weighted mean δ 13C values of long-chain n-alkanes(C27,C29 and C31 n-alkanes) from soils under dominant C4 or C3 vegetation,allowing us to reconstruct paleovegetation trends.     

Theoretical critical value curve and driving force formation of ecological migration in the arid land

The features of the fragile eco-environment of the arid land decide that its capacity of disturbance-resistance is lower. The natural desert oases in the arid land are in mosaic patches distributed in a wide Gobi desert. The population distribution is greatly dependent on water resources. The population is characterized with dispersed distribution, simple production and living style, and poverty and remoteness. The reason why the ecological migrations are carried out lies in the ecological problems. ＂Ecological degradation＂ is the main driving force of the ecological migration. Then, the strength of the driving force depends on the degree of ecological degradation. Hence, whether to carry out ecological migration depends on the extent of ecological degradation. Theoretically, the critical value curve for calculating ecological migration in the arid land is put forward through comprehensive research of relative problems of ecology, economics etc., combined with the ecological migration experience in the arid land, and based on the features of the arid environment. In this article, with this curve, the theoretical research and some practice of the ecological migration have been done from the perspective of natural behavior and governmental behavior of the driving force formation of ecological migration. It analyses the active driving force （factors） and negative forces （factors）, and points out the timing and steps of implementing the ecological migration in the arid land. The theoretical curve embodies certain originality and applicability, which provides a quantitative method for evaluating the degree of ecological degradation and the theoretical base for implementing ecological migration projects.     

Biodegradation of dissolved organic carbon in soil extracts and leachates from a temperate forest stand and its relationship to ultraviolet absorbance

The amount and biodegradability of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) in forest floors can contribute to carbon sequestration in soils and the release of CO 2-C from soil to the atmosphere.There is only limited knowledge about the biodegradation of DOC in soil extracts and leachates due to the limitations inherent in degradation experiments.Differences in the biodegradation of DOC were studied in forest soil extracts using cold and hot water and 4 mmol/L CaCl 2 solution and in soil leachates sampled under different conditions over a wide range of DOC concentrations.From these results,we developed a simple and rapid method for determining the biodegradable organic C in forest floors.The hot water extracts and CaCl 2 extracts after CH 3 Cl fumigation contained higher concentrations of biodegradable organic C than the cold water extracts and CaCl 2 extracts before fumigation,with rapid DOC degradation occurring 24-48 h after incubation with an inoculum,followed by slow DOC degradation till 120-168 h into the incubation.During a 7-d incubation with an inoculum,the variation in DOC degradation in the different soil extracts was consistent with the change in special UV absorbance at 254 nm.Relatively higher levels of biodegradable organic C were detected in soil leachates from the forest canopy than in forest gaps between April and October 2008 (P <0.05).Relatively lower concentrations of DOC and biodegradable organic C were observed in soil leachates from N-fertilized plots during the growing season compared with the control,with the exception of the plot treated with KNO 3 at a rate of 45 kg N ha 1 a 1.Around 77.4% to 96.3% of the variability in the biodegradable organic C concentrations in the forest floors could be accounted for by the initial DOC concentration and UV absorbance at 254 nm.Compared with the conventional inoculum incubation method,the method of analyzing UV absorbance at 254 nm is less time consuming and requires a much smaller sample volume.The results suggest that the regression models obtained using the initial DOC concentration and UV absorbance can provide a rapid,simple and reliable method for determining the biodegradable organic C content,especially in field studies involving relatively large numbers of samples.     

Groundwater circulation relative to water quality and vegetation in an arid transitional zone linking oasis, desert and river

In groundwater-dependent ecosystems, groundwater circulation controls the overall water quality and ecosystem dynamics. Groundwater and vegetation across a 30-km groundwater transect linking oasis, desert and river in an extremely arid area were investigated with a series of soil profiles drilled into the unsaturated zone to understand groundwater circulation and its control on groundwater quality and surface vegetation in the extremely arid Lower Tarim River, NW China. Measurements have included water-table depth, water chemistry and water isotopes (2H, 18O, 3H) for 15 water samples, soil moisture and chloride content for 11 soil profiles, and vegetation investigation. Results show that the groundwater in desert zone is characterized by slow recharge rate (pre-modern water), great water-table depth (6.17-9.43 m) and high salinity (15.32-26.50 g/L), while that in oasis (uncultivated land) and riparian zone is characterized by relatively fast recharge rate (modern water), small groundwater-table depth (3.56-8.36 m) and low salinity (1.25-1.95 g/L). Stable isotopes show that secondary evaporation takes place during irrigation in oasis. The vegetation characteristics (coverage, richness, evenness and number of plants) are closely related to soil moisture and water-table depth. Groundwater recharge from irrigation in oasis and from river in riparian zone sustains a better ecosystem than that in the desert area, where lateral and vertical groundwater recharge is limited. The more evapotranspirative enrichment may occur in the vegetated and water-rich riparian zone as compared to desert. This study also demonstrates the effectiveness of environmental tracers in studying ecohydrological processes in arid regions.     

Approximate solution for nonlinear model of the second and half order reactions in porous catalyst by decomposition method

The problem of the process of coupled diffusion and reaction in catalyst pellets is considered for the case of second and half order reactions. The Adomian decomposition method is used to solve the non-linear model. For the second, half and first order reactions, analytical approximate solutions are obtained. The variation of reactant concentration in the catalyst pellet and the effectiveness factors at φ＜10 are determined and compared with those by the BAND's finite difference numerical method developed by Newman. At lower values of φ, the decomposition solution with 3 terms gives satisfactory agreement with the numerical solution; at higher values of φ, as the term number in the decomposition method is increased, an acceptable agreement between the two methods is achieved. In general, the solution with 6 terms gives a satisfactory agreement.