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Updated: Mar 13, 2026

A Novel Bioreactor for High Density Cultivation of Diverse Microbial Communities
Published on: December 25, 2015
Enhancing synergistic partial nitrification-anammox coupling via step feed and granular sludge technology for
Bo Wang1, Xiaojian Liao1, Wenjie Li1
1National Engineering Laboratory for Advanced Municipal Wastewater Treatment and Reuse Technology, Engineering Research Center of Beijing, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, China.
Abstract:
The practical implementation of partial nitrification-anammox (PNA) systems in low ammonium content wastewater treatment is hindered by process instability and suboptimal nitrogen removal rates. This study achieved stable operation of a PNA system by integrating granular sludge and step-feed configuration for real municipal wastewater treatment under a gradually decreased hydraulic retention time (HRT). The integrated system maintained effluent total inorganic nitrogen at 1.3-5.3 mg/L (with 91.9%-98.2% removal efficiencies) over 170 days of continuous operation. At the minimal HRT of 8.33 h (aerobic phase 2.1 h), the system attained a high nitrogen removal rate of 0.177 kg N/(m3·d). Confocal laser-scanning microscopy with fluorescence in situ hybridization and 16S rRNA sequencing verified spatial coupling of ammonia-oxidizing bacteria, and denitrification bacteria within granules, anaerobic ammonium oxidizing bacteria dominating the core and nitrite-oxidizing bacteria were effectively suppressed. Our work advances understanding of the development of stable and energy-efficient technologies for mainstream PNA implementation.
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