Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 5, 2026
11:31
Continuously-stirred Anaerobic Digester to Convert Organic Wastes into Biogas: System Setup and Basic Operation
Published on: July 13, 2012
33.8K
Anaerobic ammonium oxidation: from laboratory to full-scale application
1School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shandong University, Jinan 250100, China. sqni@sdu.edu.cn
Biomed Research International
|August 20, 2013
Summary
Commercializing anammox bacteria for wastewater treatment involved key milestones. Using enriched sludge significantly speeds up the start-up of anammox reactors, making it a preferred method.
Area of Science:
- Environmental microbiology
- Wastewater treatment technologies
- Anaerobic ammonium oxidation (anammox)
Background:
- The discovery of anammox bacteria in the early 1990s paved the way for novel wastewater treatment solutions.
- Commercialization of anammox technology required overcoming challenges in bacterial culture and reactor operation.
- The development of anammox processes has been a significant advancement in nitrogen removal from wastewater.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the historical development and commercialization milestones of anammox technology.
- To analyze the strategies for culturing anammox bacteria and starting up reactors.
- To highlight the advantages of anammox as a priority choice for ammonium wastewater treatment.
Main Methods:
- Review of literature on anammox bacteria discovery and application.
- Analysis of key milestones in anammox reactor development and commercialization.
- Comparison of different strategies for anammox sludge enrichment and reactor start-up.
Main Results:
- Three major milestones mark the commercialization of anammox: enrichment medium development, first commercial reactor completion, and fast start-up.
- Reactor start-up times varied significantly, with a 3.5-year duration for the first full-scale reactor versus a 2-month start-up for an Asian reactor using enriched sludge.
- The availability of anammox seed sludge dramatically accelerates reactor start-up and operational efficiency.
Conclusions:
- Anammox bacteria culture and reactor operation have progressed significantly, driven by advancements in enrichment and seeding strategies.
- The use of enriched anammox sludge is a critical factor in achieving rapid and efficient full-scale plant operation.
- Anammox technology is increasingly recognized as a leading solution for effective ammonium removal in wastewater treatment.
Related Concept Videos
01:30Environmental Applications of Microorganisms
1.5K
Microorganisms play a pivotal role in maintaining ecosystem balance by recycling essential elements such as carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus, as well as supporting processes like bioremediation, wastewater treatment, and biofuel production.Microbes in Elemental CyclesIn the carbon cycle, microorganisms decompose organic matter, releasing carbon dioxide via aerobic respiration. This carbon dioxide is subsequently used by photosynthetic organisms to synthesize organic compounds, closing the...
1.5K
01:15Metabolism of Chemolithotrophs
1.3K
Chemolithotrophs are microorganisms that obtain energy by oxidizing inorganic molecules such as hydrogen gas (H₂), ammonia (NH₃), reduced sulfur compounds (H₂S, S²⁻), and ferrous iron (Fe²⁺). Unlike heterotrophic organisms that rely on organic carbon, chemolithotrophs transfer electrons from these inorganic donors to the electron transport chain (ETC), generating a proton motive force (PMF) that drives ATP synthesis through oxidative phosphorylation.
1.3K
01:22Inorganic Nitrogen Assimilation
928
Nitrogen is an essential element in biological systems, forming a crucial component of proteins, nucleic acids, and other cellular constituents. Many bacteria and archaea acquire nitrogen in the form of nitrate (NO₃⁻) or ammonia (NH₃), which are then assimilated into biomolecules through specific enzymatic pathways.Assimilatory Nitrate ReductionWhen nitrate enters the cell, it undergoes a two-step reduction process known as assimilatory nitrate reduction. Initially, the enzyme...
928
01:26Microbes and Methanogenesis
91
Methanogenesis is a critical microbial process in anaerobic ecosystems responsible for the biological production of methane, a potent greenhouse gas and valuable biofuel. This metabolic pathway is primarily facilitated by methanogenic archaea, which thrive in anoxic environments such as wetlands, sediments, and animal gastrointestinal tracts. The absence of oxygen in these habitats prevents aerobic respiration, thereby favoring alternative biochemical pathways for organic matter degradation.In...
91
01:29Bioreactor Design and Operational System
200
Bioreactors are engineered vessels designed to cultivate microorganisms under controlled conditions for industrial bioprocessing. They maintain sterility and allow precise regulation of pH, temperature, oxygen, and nutrient levels to optimize microbial growth and metabolite production. Bioreactors range from small laboratory units of 1 liter to industrial systems holding up to 500,000 liters, though only about 75% of their volume is actively used for fermentation. The remaining headspace...
200
01:14Scale-Up Processes
105
The scale-up of microbial fermentation processes is essential in industrial biotechnology, allowing the transition from laboratory-scale experiments to commercial-scale production while aiming to maintain product yield and quality. This process requires meticulous adjustment of equipment design, process parameters, and contamination control strategies to accommodate increasing culture volumes.At the laboratory scale, cultures are typically maintained in 1 to 10-liter glass or autoclavable...
105