Search

This study investigated the possibility of using a novel type of surface conductive hollow fiber membrane during the anaerobic membrane bioreactor process (AnMBR). In particular, the membrane fouling control mechanisms of Surface electric field AnMBR (S-AnEMBR) were evaluated through comparing with the operation of Conventional AnMBR (AnMBR) and Electric field AnMBR (AnEMBR). Results showed that S-AnEMBR had longer running time, stronger anti-fouling capability, and more stable total organic carbon (TOC) removal efficiency. And S-AnEMBR could extend the running time of the rapid fouling phase (Stage 2). Electrochemical analysis and microbial community analysis showed that enhanced electron transfer in S-AnEMBR accelerated the decomposition of organic matter and further improved acidification efficiency from 83.75% to 234.78%, indicating the methane concentration ranged between 24.56 mmol/L and 36.99 mmol/L. Cake layer compression was reduced because significant changes were observed in increased particle size and more negative Zeta potential. In addition, basophilic methanogens (48%) were enriched at cathode, which improved electrochemical activity of carbon electrode biocathode and promoted anaerobic digestion. Therefore, it was found that S-AnEMBR was more conducive to controlling the properties and structure of the gel layer, and further achieving the resistance towards protein and polysaccharide adhesion in membrane. This work demonstrated that the surface conductive hollow fiber membrane possessed good anti-fouling ability in AnMBR, and provided an alternative membrane material for AnMBR application.

Hydrotaea spinigera Stein is a necrophagous species, widely distributed in Oriental and Australasian regions. Considering that the postfeeding larvae or puparia of this species can still be found in abundance at the advanced decomposition stage or even the skeleton stage of remains, it can serve as a good supplementary indicator for estimating the minimum postmortem interval (PMImin). This could also extend the range of PMImin when the primary colonizers are no longer associated with the corpse or have emerged as adults. This study investigated the development duration, accumulated degree hours, and larval body length changes of H. spinigera at seven constant temperatures ranging from 16 to 34°C, and established three development models for estimating PMImin, including isomorphen diagram, isomegalen diagram, and thermal summation model. At 16, 19, 22, 25, 28, 31, and 34°C, the development durations of H. spinigera from egg to adult stage were 1,412.6 ± 62.9, 867.4 ± 14.9, 657.1 ± 22.9, 532.3 ± 10.1, 418.8 ± 21.3, 379.8 ± 16.6, and 340.0 ± 20.3 h, respectively. The lower developmental threshold L0 was estimated as 10.50 ± 0.20°C, and the thermal summation constant K was 7,648.83 ± 146.74 degree hours. Using regression analysis, equations were obtained modeling the change of larval body length with time after hatching at different temperatures. This study provided basic data based on the growth and development of H. spinigera for the estimation of PMImin in forensic science.