The present disclosure relates to a device and method for degrading chlorinated hydrocarbon (CHC) in polluted groundwater. A preparation method for each of glass tubes and the method for degrading CHCs are as follows: uniformly mixing 55-85 wt % of Bi.sub.2O.sub.3, 5-15 wt % of B.sub.2O.sub.3, and 10-30 wt % of SrCO.sub.3, putting into a corrosion resistant crucible, holding at 1,050-1,300° C. for 15-45 min, forming into a glass tube, and holding the glass tube at 200-400° C. for 1-3 h, followed by annealing; soaking the inner wall of the glass tube for 10-30 min with a HCl solution with a concentration of 0.02-0.2 mol/L, washing with water, and providing an ultraviolet lamp to obtain a self-cleaning glass tube; guiding CHC-containing groundwater to the self-cleaning glass tube, turning on the ultraviolet lamp, and carrying out ultraviolet irradiation for 1-8 h, thereby effectively removing the CHCs.

The present invention provides for synthesizing high optical quality multicomponent chalcogenide glasses without refractive index perturbations due to striae, phase separation or crystal formation using a two-zone furnace and multiple fining steps. The top and bottom zones are initially heated to the same temperature, and then a temperature gradient is created between the top zone and the bottom zone. The fining and cooling phase is divided into multiple steps with multiple temperature holds.

The present invention provides for synthesizing high optical quality multicomponent chalcogenide glasses without refractive index perturbations due to striae, phase separation or crystal formation using a two-zone furnace and multiple fining steps. The top and bottom zones are initially heated to the same temperature, and then a temperature gradient is created between the top zone and the bottom zone. The fining and cooling phase is divided into multiple steps with multiple temperature holds.

A method of forming a dissolvable part of amorphous borate includes: preparing a mixture comprising one or more boron compounds and one or more alkali compounds, at least one of the one or more boron compounds and the one or more alkali compounds being hydrous; heating the mixture to a melting temperature for a predetermined time to melt the mixture and release water from the mixture to form an anhydrous boron compound that is moldable, wherein the amount of alkali compound being selected to achieve an alkali oxide content of between about 10 to 25%; with the anhydrous boron compound at a molding temperature, molding the anhydrous boron compound in a mold; and cooling the anhydrous boron compound to form a solid.

A method of forming a dissolvable part of amorphous borate includes: preparing a mixture comprising one or more boron compounds and one or more alkali compounds, at least one of the one or more boron compounds and the one or more alkali compounds being hydrous; heating the mixture to a melting temperature for a predetermined time to melt the mixture and release water from the mixture to form an anhydrous boron compound that is moldable, wherein the amount of alkali compound being selected to achieve an alkali oxide content of between about 10 to 25%; with the anhydrous boron compound at a molding temperature, molding the anhydrous boron compound in a mold; and cooling the anhydrous boron compound to form a solid.

A method of forming a dissolvable part of amorphous borate includes: preparing a mixture comprising one or more boron compounds and one or more alkali compounds, at least one of the one or more boron compounds and the one or more alkali compounds being hydrous; heating the mixture to a melting temperature for a predetermined time to melt the mixture and release water from the mixture to form an anhydrous boron compound that is moldable, wherein the amount of alkali compound being selected to achieve an alkali oxide content of between about 10 to 25%; with the anhydrous boron compound at a molding temperature, molding the anhydrous boron compound in a mold; and cooling the anhydrous boron compound to form a solid.

A method of forming a dissolvable part of amorphous borate includes: preparing a mixture comprising one or more boron compounds and one or more alkali compounds, at least one of the one or more boron compounds and the one or more alkali compounds being hydrous; heating the mixture to a melting temperature for a predetermined time to melt the mixture and release water from the mixture to form an anhydrous boron compound that is moldable, wherein the amount of alkali compound being selected to achieve an alkali oxide content of between about 10 to 25%; with the anhydrous boron compound at a molding temperature, molding the anhydrous boron compound in a mold; and cooling the anhydrous boron compound to form a solid.

Disclosed herein are glass-ceramic compositions, articles made from the disclosed glass-ceramic compositions, and methods of making the same. More specifically disclosed herein is a glass-ceramic composition comprising: a) from about 2 mol % to about 20 mol % of Al.sub.2O.sub.3; b) from about 2 mol % to about 45 mol % of Li.sub.2O; and c) from about 48 mol % to about 80 mol % of SiO.sub.2; having a β-spodumene phase and a lithium silicate crystalline phase, and optionally a petalite phase.

Disclosed herein are glass-ceramic compositions, articles made from the disclosed glass-ceramic compositions, and methods of making the same. More specifically disclosed herein is a glass-ceramic composition comprising: a) from about 2 mol % to about 20 mol % of Al.sub.2O.sub.3; b) from about 2 mol % to about 45 mol % of Li.sub.2O; and c) from about 48 mol % to about 80 mol % of SiO.sub.2; having a β-spodumene phase and a lithium silicate crystalline phase, and optionally a petalite phase.

A method of forming a dissolvable part of amorphous borate includes: preparing a mixture comprising one or more boron compounds and one or more alkali compounds, at least one of the one or more boron compounds and the one or more alkali compounds being hydrous; heating the mixture to a melting temperature for a predetermined time to melt the mixture and release water from the mixture to form an anhydrous boron compound that is moldable, wherein the amount of alkali compound being selected to achieve an alkali oxide content of between about 10 to 25%; with the anhydrous boron compound at a molding temperature, molding the anhydrous boron compound in a mold; and cooling the anhydrous boron compound to form a solid.