Performance of Anammox granular sludge bed reactor started up with nitrifying granular sludge

The anaerobic ammonia oxidation (Anammox) granular sludge bed reactor was started up successfully with nitrifying granular sludge. During the operation, the nitrifying granular sludge was gradually converted into Anammox granular sludge with good settling property and high conversion activity. The Anammox reactor worked well with the shortest HRT of 2.43 h. Under the condition that HRT was 6.39 h and influent concentration of ammonia and nitrite was 10 mmol/L, the removal of ammonia and nitrite was 97.17% and 100.00%, respectively. Corresponding volumetric total nitrogen loading rate and volumetric total nitrogen conversion rate were 100.83 mmol/(L x d) and 98.95 mmol/(L x d). The performance of Anammox reactor was efficient and stable.