A review of several important factors influencing the Anammox process

Anaerobic ammonium oxidation (Anammox) technology is the most promising biological nitrogen removal process today. Under anaerobic conditions, Anammox bacteria directly oxidize ammonia nitrogen to nitrogen with nitrite as the electron acceptor, which has the advantages of no aeration, no need for organic carbon sources, and less excess sludge production. However, anaerobic ammonia oxidizing bacteria have strict requirements for their growth environment and numerous influencing factors, which has become the biggest bottleneck for large-scale engineering applications. This article reviewed the effects of five main influencing factors (substrate concentration, organic matter, dissolved oxygen, temperature, pH) on anammox, and discusses how to maximize the use of anammox technology based on different reactor types and bacteria species, in order to provide reference for the application of anaerobic ammonia oxidation in mainstream sewage treatment. © 2023 Chinese Society for Environmental Sciences. All rights reserved.