Improvement of the settling properties of Anammox sludge in an SBR

Biological systems for the treatment of wastewater have to provide optimum sludge retention to achieve high removal efficiencies. In the case of slow‐growing micro‐organisms, such as anaerobic ammonia‐oxidizing (Anammox) bacteria, episodes of flotation involving biomass wash‐out are especially critical. In this study a strategy based on the introduction of a mix period in the operational cycle of the Anammox Sequencing Batch Reactor (SBR) was tested for its effects on biomass retention and nitrite removal. Using this new cycle distribution the biomass retention inside the reactor improved as the solids concentration in the effluent of the SBR decreased from 20–45 to 5–10 mg VSS dm^?3 and the biomass concentration inside the reactor increased from 1.30 to 2.53 g VSS dm^?3 in a period of 25 days. A decrease of the sludge volume index (SVI) from 108 to 60 cm³ g VSS^?1 was also observed. Complete depletion of nitrite was achieved in the reactor only with the new cycle distribution treating nitrogen loading rates (g N‐NO₂^? + g N‐NH₄⁺ dm^?3 d^?1) up to 0.60 g N dm^?3 d^?1. Copyright © 2004 Society of Chemical Industry     

Mode of action of ferric and ferrous iron salts in activated sludge

BACKGROUND: Both ferric iron Fe(III) and ferrous iron Fe(II) salts are commonly used for chemical phosphorus removal (CPR) in the activated sludge (AS) process but only a few studies have compared Fe(III) and Fe(II) salts regarding their effect on the physical and biological properties of AS. In this research, the units of a continuous flow laboratory‐scale AS plant were dosed with Fe(III) and Fe(II) salts at a concentration of 25 mg Fe dm^?3 feed and changes in the AS properties were measured as Fe accumulated or washed out during startup, normal operation and withdrawal of dosing. RESULTS: The morphological characteristics of the flocs showed marked differences depending on the type of ion used. Fe(II) dosed flocs were more compact, less filamentous and smaller in size than Fe(III) dosed flocs. The settleability index of the Fe(II) dosed sludge was lower than that of the Fe(III) dosed sludge. The activity of ammonium (NH₄⁺‐N) and nitrite (NO₂^?‐N) oxidizing bacteria was found to be affected by the accumulation of Fe relating products into the sludge. CONCLUSIONS: Fe(II) was a more effective flocculent than Fe(III) and this was attributed to its ability to form stronger ionic bonds with the flocs prior to its oxidation to Fe(III). A hypothesis explaining the mode of action of Fe(II) is proposed. Floc surface properties were enhanced, this being beneficial to the morphological characteristics and settleability with further implications for the operation of AS. However, the effect may be reversed at high Fe contents. Copyright © 2010 Society of Chemical Industry     

Aerated membrane‐attached biofilm reactor as an effective tool for partial nitrification in pretreatment of anaerobic ammonium oxidation (ANAMMOX) process

BACKGROUND: A laboratory‐scale membrane aeration bioreactor was employed to treat synthetic ammonium‐rich wastewater to yield an appropriate NH₄⁺/NO₂^? ratio for anaerobic ammonium oxidation (ANAMMOX). The main objectives of this study were to steadily obtain 50% partial nitrification in batch experiments, to evaluate the effects of aeration and to identify the dominant bacterial community of the biofilm for partial nitrification. RESULTS: Some of the ammonium in the synthetic wastewater was partially nitrified. A suitable NH₄⁺/NO₂^? ratio (1:1 to 1:1.3) for the ANAMMOX process was obtained after 24 h. The dissolved oxygen (DO) level in the treated water was very low (below 0.6 mg L^?1). Both the appropriate NH₄⁺/NO₂^? ratio and the low DO level make this bioreactor an ideal pretreatment system for ANAMMOX. In addition, a molecular biotechnology method was applied to prove that the ammonia‐oxidizing bacteria dominated the biofilm. CONCLUSION: This system achieved surprising cost savings in the aeration process compared with traditional aeration systems. The combination of this system with the subsequent ANAMMOX process has great potential as a favorable short‐cut in the treatment of ammonium‐rich wastewater. Copyright © 2007 Society of Chemical Industry     

Modelling a sequencing batch reactor to treat the supernatant from anaerobic digestion of the organic fraction of municipal solid waste

In this study, a lab‐scale sequencing batch reactor (SBR) has been tested to remove chemical oxygen demand (COD) and NH₄⁺‐N from the supernatant of anaerobic digestion of the organic fraction of municipal solid waste. This supernatant was characterized by a high ammonium concentration (1.1 g NH₄⁺‐N L^?1) and an important content of slowly biodegradable and/or recalcitrant COD (4.8 g total COD L^?1). Optimum SBR operating sequence was reached when working with 3 cycles per day, 30 °C, SRT 12 days and HRT 3 days. During the time sequence, two aerobic/anoxic steps were performed to avoid alkalinity restrictions. Oxygen supply and working pH range were controlled to promote the nitrification over nitrite. Under steady state conditions, COD and nitrogen removal efficiencies of more than 65% and 98%, respectively, were achieved. A closed intermittent‐flow respirometer was used to characterize and model the SBR performance. The activated sludge model ASM1 was modified to describe the biological nitrogen removal over nitrite, including the inhibition of nitrification by unionized ammonia and nitrous acid concentrations, the pH dependency of both autotrophic and heterotrophic biomass, pH calculation and the oxygen supply and stripping of CO₂ and NH₃. Once calibrated by respirometry, the proposed model showed very good agreement between experimental and simulated data. Copyright © 2007 Society of Chemical Industry     

Simultaneous organic and nutrient removal from municipal wastewater by BSACNR process

Biological nutrient removal was investigated under a biological synthetic activated ceramic nutrient removal (BSACNR) process. Tests were made to establish whether organic compounds and nutrients (N, P) from municipal wastewater were eliminated effectively in a lab-scale BSACNR process by increasing the hydraulic retention time (HRT) from 4 hr to 10 hr. In the system, synthetic activated ceramic (SAC) media were packed in each reactor for attached growth of both nitrifying bacteria and denitrifying bacteria; the sludge of the clarifier was returned to the anaerobic reactor to release phosphate. In this configuration, nitrification, denitrification and phosphorus removal could be performed at their respective conditions. The influent was synthetic wastewater, and the mean concentration of COD, NH⁺ ₄ -N and T-P in the influent was about 200 mg/L, 20 mg/L and 8 mg/L, respectively. At a total HRT of the system of 4-10 hr, the system worked successfully obtaining the removal of COD, NH⁺ ₄-N, T-N and T-P: 90.5-97.5%, 72.9-94.4%, 56.5-73.7% and 36.0-61.1%, respectively. The results of this research show that a biological synthetic activated ceramic nutrient removal (BSACNR) process packed with SAC media could be applicable for treatment of organic and nutrient from municipal wastewater.     

2,4,6‐Trichlorophenol and phenol removal in methanogenic and partially‐aerated methanogenic conditions in a fluidized bed bioreactor

A fluidized bed bioreactor (FBBR) was operated for more than 575 days to remove 2,4,6‐trichlorophenol (TCP) and phenol (Phe) from a synthetic toxic wastewater containing 80 mg L^?1 of TCP and 20 mg L^?1 of Phe under two regimes: Methanogenic (M) and Partially‐Aerated Methanogenic (PAM). The mesophilic, laboratory‐scale FBBR consisted of a glass column (3 L capacity) loaded with 1 L of 1 mm diameter granular activated carbon colonized by an anaerobic consortium. Sucrose (1 g COD L^?1) was used as co‐substrate in the two conditions. The hydraulic residence time was kept constant at 1 day. Both conditions showed similar TCP and Phe removal (99.9 + %); nevertheless, in the Methanogenic regime, the accumulation of 4‐chlorophenol (4CP) up to 16 mg L^?1 and phenol up to 4 mg L^?1 was observed, whereas in PAM conditions 4CP and other intermediates were not detected. The specific methanogenic activity of biomass decreased from 1.01 ± 0.14 in M conditions to 0.19 ± 0.06 mmolCH₄ h^?1 gTKN^?1 in PAM conditions whereas the specific oxygen uptake rate increased from 0.039 ± 0.008 in M conditions to 0.054 ± 0.012 mmolO₂ h^?1 gTKN^?1, which suggested the co‐existence of both methanogenic archaea and aerobic bacteria in the undefined consortium. The advantage of the PAM condition over the M regime is that it provides for the thorough removal of less‐substituted chlorophenols produced by the reductive dehalogenation of TCP rather than the removal of the parent compound itself. Copyright © 2005 Society of Chemical Industry     

Towards waste minimisation in WWTP: activated carbon from biological sludge and its application in liquid phase adsorption

Surplus sludge produced during the biological treatment of wastewater requires costly disposal procedures. With increasing environmental and legislative constraints, increasing sludge production and more limited disposal options, new recycling alternatives have to be found. The possibility of obtaining activated carbons from surplus biological sludge by chemical activation with H₂SO₄ has been investigated. Operational parameters such as the amount of H₂SO₄ added, the temperature, and activation time were modified to ascertain their influence on the quality of the activated carbon obtained. The quality of the sludge‐based activated carbons was evaluated by established characterisation parameters for adsorption from solution such as phenol value, iodine number, methylene blue number and tannin value and compared with commercial activated carbons. Activation at 700 °C for 30 min in the presence of 0.5 cm³ H₂SO₄ g^?1 dry solids in the sludge led to an activated carbon with a good capacity for iodine and tannic acid. The sludge‐derived activated carbon obtained is mesoporous in nature with a high presence of large macropores. Weak and moderate acidic surface functional groups were detected on the surface, which impart a hydrophilic nature to the solid. When compared with a commercial activated carbon, the sludge‐derived activated carbon performed better when removing dyes with a high presence of anionic solubilising groups and heavy metals. The results indicate that COD adsorption from a biologically‐treated effluent may also be an area for application. © 2002 Society of Chemical Industry     

Zeolite synthesis from paper sludge ash with addition of diatomite

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to investigate the synthesis of zeolites from paper sludge ash (PSA) with added diatomite to remove both NH₄⁺ and PO₄^3? for water purification. The PSA had low Si and significant Ca contents. Four types of diatomite: white (T‐W) and brown (T‐B) from deposits of marine origin in Takanosu, and white (S‐W) and gray (S‐G) from lacustrine deposits in Shonai, were added to NaOH solution to increase the Si content and thereby synthesize zeolites with high cation exchange capacity (CEC). RESULTS: The order of the amounts of Si extracted from the diatomite to the alkali solution was S‐W > T‐W = T‐B > S‐G, which correlates with the amorphous SiO₂ content of diatomite. The original ash without addition of diatomite yielded hydroxysodalite with CEC of about 1.0 mmol g^?1. For all samples, the addition of diatomite to the solution yielded zeolite‐P with a higher CEC, but the addition of excess Si inhibited the synthesis of zeolite‐P, and the CEC of the product was low. A product with high CEC including zeolite‐P was obtained in a solution with around 500 mmol L^?1 of Si concentration, and had the ability to remove both NH₄⁺ and PO₄^3?. CONCLUSION: Diatomite has the potential for used as an additive for the synthesis of high CEC zeolite from PSA. The product with zeolite‐P exhibited relatively high CEC, capacity for NH₄⁺ uptake, and the ability to remove PO₄^3? by precipitation, which is preferable for water purification applications. Copyright © 2008 Society of Chemical Industry     

The use of 3,3′,4′,5‐tetrachlorosalicylanilide as a chemical uncoupler to reduce activated sludge yield

To determine whether chemical additions can be used to reduce sludge production in biological wastewater treatment, 3,3′,4′,5‐tetrachlorosalicylanilide (TCS) was added to activated sludge cultures as a metabolic uncoupler. Batch tests confirmed that TCS is an effective chemical uncoupler in reducing the sludge yield at concentrations greater than 1.0 mg dm^?3; a TCS concentration of 1.0 mg dm^?3 reduced sludge yield by approximately 50%. Substrate removal capability and effluent nitrogen concentration were not affected adversely by the presence of TCS when dosed every other day in a range of 2.0–3.6 mg dm^?3 during the 40‐day operation of activated sludge batch cultures. Such sludge growth reduction was associated with the enhancement of microbial activities in terms of the specific oxygen uptake rate and dehydrogenase activity. Sludge settleability of the treated and control samples was qualitatively comparable and not significantly different. Filamentous bacteria continued to grow in sludge flocs only in the control reactor at the end of the 40‐day trial. These results suggest that TCS treatment of activated sludge systems may reduce excess sludge yield. Copyright © 2003 Society of Chemical Industry     

Anaerobic biodegradation of phenol in sulfide‐rich media

In the refinery industry, the washing processes of middle‐distillates using caustic solutions generate phenol‐ and sulfide‐containing waste streams. The spent caustic liquors generated contain phenols at concentrations higher than 60 g dm^?3(638.3 mmol dm^?3). For sulfur compounds, the average sulfide concentration was 48 g dm^?3(1500 mmol dm^?3) in these streams. The goal of this study was to evaluate the specific impact of phenol and sulfide concentrations towards the phenol‐biodegradation activity of a phenol‐acclimated anaerobic granular sludge. An inhibition model was used to calculate the phenol and sulfide inhibitory concentrations that completely stopped the phenol‐biodegradation activity (IC100). A maximum phenol‐biodegradation activity of 83 µmol g^?1 VSS h^?1 was assessed and the IC100 values were 21.8 mmol dm^?3 and 13.4 mmol dm^?3 for phenol and sulfide respectively. The limitation of the phenol biodegradation flow by phenol inhibition seemed to be related to the more important sensitivity of phenol‐degrading bacteria. The up‐flow anaerobic sludge bed reactor operating in a non‐phenol‐dependent inhibition condition did not present any sensitivity to sulfide concentrations below 9.6 mmol dm^?3. At this residual concentration, the pH and bisulfide ions' concentration might be responsible for the general collapsing of the reactor activity. Copyright © 2004 Society of Chemical Industry     

一株异养硝化菌的分离鉴定及其最佳亚硝化条件

采用传统微生物分离纯化方法,从焦化废水活性污泥中筛选到一株高效去除氨氮并显著积累亚硝酸盐氮的异养硝化细菌C16.该菌株为G-,短杆状;菌落为白色、半透明.经形态、生理生化特性以及16S rRNA基因序列分析,初步鉴定该菌属于产碱杆菌属(命名为Alcaligenes sp.C16).对该菌的异养硝化功能进行了研究,结果表...     

Enrichment of Anammox biomass from municipal activated sludge: experimental and modelling results

Anaerobic Ammonia Oxidising (Anammox) biomass was enriched from sludge collected at a municipal wastewater treatment plant, employing a Sequential Batch Reactor (SBR). After 60 days Anammox activity started to be detected, by consumption of stoichiometric amounts of NO₂^? and NH₄⁺ in the system. Fluorescence In Situ Hybridisation analysis confirmed the increase of Anammox bacteria concentration with time. A final concentration of enriched biomass of 3–3.5 gVSS dm^?3 was obtained, showing a Specific Anammox Activity of 0.18 gNH₄⁺‐N gVSS^?1 d^?1 The reactor was able to treat nitrogen loading rates of up to 1.4 kgN m^?3 d^?1, achieving a removal efficiency of 82 %. On the other hand, the start‐up and operation of the Anammox SBR reactor were consequentially modelled with the Activated Sludge Model nr 1, extended for Anammox. The simulations predicted quite well the experimental data in relation to the concentrations of nitrogenous compounds and can be used to estimate the evolution of Anammox and heterotrophic biomass in the reactor. These simulations reveal that heterotrophs still remain in the system after the start‐up of the reactor and can protect the Anammox microorganisms from a negative effect of the oxygen. Copyright © 2004 Society of Chemical Industry     

Preparation of γ‐Fe2O3 Catalysts and their deNOx Performance: Effects of Precipitation Conditions

Magnetic γ‐Fe₂O₃ catalysts were prepared by microwave‐assisted coprecipitation utilizing the direct‐titrate and back‐titrate precipitation technique with different precipitants, namely, (NH₄)₂CO₃, NaOH, Na₂CO₃, and NH₄OH, which were evaluated in the selective catalytic reduction of NO_x with NH₃. The optimum γ‐Fe₂O₃ catalyst preparation method was direct titration with NH₄OH as the precipitant, which exhibits high deNO_x efficiency. This direct titration was effective to maintain the proper crystallization degree of γ‐Fe₂O₃, improve the pore structure, and suppress the formation of α‐Fe₂O₃ phase, being advantageous to get tiny and uniform discrete γ‐Fe₂O₃ particles with high activity in selective catalytic reduction. NH₄⁺‐based precipitants in direct titration leads to an increase of the surface O/Fe atom ratio, and more lattice oxygen sites are exposed to the crystal surface.     

焦化废水中硫氰化物的生物降解及其与苯酚、氨氮的交互影响

硫氰化物（SCN^-）在焦化废水中的普遍出现,对COD、色度及NH⁺₄-N等指标构成贡献,且生物降解过程中还与其他污染物产生交互作用,影响工程工艺的选择和达标的控制。本研究采用实际工程不同单元工艺的活性污泥,在研究SCN-的基本降解特性与动力学基础上,重点考察苯酚对SCN^-降解及SCN^-对氨氮硝化过程的影响,评价SCN^-在焦化废水实际降解过程中与其他污染物的交互作用。研究发现,在特征活性污泥培养条件下,SCN^-的降解速率达20.15 mg SCN^-·（g MLSS）^-1·h^-1,污泥活性不受SCN^-底物浓度抑制,降解过程符合Michaelis-Menten动力学模型;苯酚对SCN^-的降解表现为毒性抑制且存在浓度阈值,高浓度苯酚可严重抑制SCN^-的降解,738 mg·L^-1苯酚使108 mg·L^-1SCN^-完全降解时间从1.5 h延长至20 h;SCN^-对硝化过程有抑制作用,可同时影响NH⁺₄的去除和NO^-₂的转化,导致硝化系统中NO^-₂浓度的积累。结果表明,生物过程中SCN^-与酚类、NH⁺₄之间的交互影响使焦化废水的处理变得复杂且难以控制,针对实际工程,需要明确各核心组分之间的相互作用,从共基质效应或毒性效应方面考虑污泥活性与浓度区间的适配,才能构建出各项污染指标得到优化控制的高效工艺。     

Treatment of the refinery wastewater in a gas–liquid–solid three‐phase flow airlift loop bioreactor

Aerobic treatment of refinery wastewater was carried out in a 200 dm³ gas–liquid–solid three‐phase flow airlift loop bioreactor, in which a biological membrane replaced the activated sludge. The influences of temperature, pH, gas–liquid ratio and hydraulic residence time on the reductions in chemical oxygen demand (COD) and NH₄‐N were investigated and discussed. The optimum operation conditions were obtained as temperature of 25–35 °C, pH value of 7.0–8.0, gas–liquid ratio of 50 and hydraulic residence time of 4 h. The radial and axial positions had little influence on the local profiles of COD and NH₄‐N. Under the optimum operating conditions, the effluent COD and NH₄‐N were less than 100 mg dm^?3 and 15 mg dm^?3 respectively for more than 40 days, satisfying the national primary discharge standard of China (GB 8978‐1996). Copyright © 2005 Society of Chemical Industry     

Influence of preoxidizing treatments on the preparation of iron‐containing activated carbons for catalytic wet peroxide oxidation of phenol

BACKGROUND: Iron species were heterogeneously supported over activated carbons (AC) after different oxidizing pre‐treatments. The influence of the oxidizing method on the iron yield and the physicochemical properties of the iron‐containing activated carbons (Fe/AC) were studied. Thereafter, the activity and stability of Fe/AC catalysts for the wet peroxide oxidation of phenol as model pollutant was evaluated. RESULTS: The pre‐oxidizing treatment with HNO₃ was the most appropriate for iron incorporation, providing a Fe/AC catalyst with the highest TOC removal and oxidant efficiency. A high stability of the catalysts was observed with low values of iron leaching (below 1.5% of their initial iron contents). The best Fe/AC catalyst was studied at different reaction temperatures and initial phenol concentrations. CONCLUSION: The promising results for the Fe/AC catalyst using HNO₃ pre‐oxidizing treatment lay in the remarkable adsorption capacity of the carbon matrix and the potential activity of the iron species as Fenton‐like catalyst for the generation of oxidizing hydroxyl radicals. Copyright © 2012 Society of Chemical Industry     

Development of a correlation to study parameters affecting nitrification in a domestic wastewater treatment plant

BACKGROUND: Nitrification performance of an activated sludge reactor treating weak domestic wastewater was investigated for 11 months. Ammonia nitrogen removals were investigated as a function of wastewater composition and operational conditions. Backward elimination experimental design was used to determine the influence of the most important independent variables on NH₃‐N removal efficiencies. Influent ammonia and biological oxygen demand (BOD₅) concentrations, hydraulic retention time (HRT), mixed liquid suspended solids (MLSS), temperature, pH and dissolved oxygen (DO) concentration were considered as independent variables. This study aimed to find the most important parameters to describe nitrification performance. RESULTS: The presence of nitrification was confirmed by ammonia and nitrate variations throughout the reactor; ammonia oxidizing bacteria (AOB) populations were determined using a fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) method. MLSS concentration, influent BOD₅ concentration and temperature were found to be the most influential factors on nitrification performance. The empirical correlation using multiple linear regressions was statistically significant and produced an adjusted coefficient of multiple determinations (R²_adj) of 92.5%. CONCLUSION: Correlation provides a good understanding of the various parameters that affect the nitrification process, and could be extended to other case studies. Using these results, operators can apply proper operational strategies to maintain nitrification in wastewater treatment plants. Copyright © 2007 Society of Chemical Industry     

Ion exchange resins from phenol/formaldehyde resin‐modified lignin

Phenol/formaldehyde resin, commonly sulfonated, is used as ion exchanger. Lignin, which is the phenolic polymer matrix in wood, was isolated from olive stone biomass by alkaline hydrolysis of weak ether bonds (Kraft lignin, KRL). It was then hydroxymethylated (KRLH) with an aqueous solution of formaldehyde. Novolac resin (N) was synthesized from phenol and formaldehyde under acidic conditions. KRL or KRLH was incorporated into phenol/formaldehyde during polymerization (N‐KRL, N‐KRLH). The products of polymerization (N, N‐KRL and N‐KRLH) were sulfonated with concentrated H₂SO₄ (1:3 w/w as typical proportion according to literature or 1:6 w/w as an excess of H₂SO₄) and then cross‐linked with formaldehyde. The different products were characterized by IR spectroscopy, swelling in ethanol, acetone and in an aqueous solution of 1 N NaOH. The ion‐exchange capacity, the moisture retention capacity and the titration curves of the sulfonated and cured products were determined. The ion‐exchange capacity and the uptake of metal ions (mainly Co²⁺ and Cu²⁺) detected by atomic absorption spectroscopy, on the sulfonated materials, prepared in an excess of H₂SO₄, is higher for N‐KRL and N‐KRLH than for N and it takes place at the same rate or faster. The latter shows a medium acidic behaviour according to the titration curves, in contrast with the sulfonated N‐KRLH and N‐KRL which show a strongly acidic behaviour. © 2001 Society of Chemical Industry     

Efficient Room‐Temperature Oxidation of Hydrocarbons Mediated by Tricopper Cluster Complexes with Different Ligands

Six tricopper cluster complexes of the type [Cu^ICu^ICu^I( L )]¹⁺ supported by a series of multidentate ligands ( L ) have been developed as oxidation catalysts. These complexes are capable of mediating the facile oxygen‐atom transfer to hydrocarbon substrates like cyclohexane, benzene, and styrene (C₆H₁₂, C₆H₆ and C₈H₈) upon activation by hydrogen peroxide at room temperature. The processes are catalytic with high turnover frequencies (TOF), efficiently oxidizing the substrates to their corresponding alcohols, aldehydes, and ketones in moderate to high yields. The catalysts are robust with turnover numbers (TON) limited only by the availability of hydrogen peroxide used to drive the catalytic turnover. The TON is independent of the substrate concentration and the TOF depends linearly on the hydrogen peroxide concentration when the oxidation of the substrate mediated by the activated tricopper complex is rapid. At low substrate concentrations, the catalytic system exhibits abortive cycling resulting from competing reduction of the activated catalyst by hydrogen peroxide. This behaviour of the system is consistent with activation of the tricopper complex by hydrogen peroxide to generate a strong oxidizing intermediate capable of a facile direct “oxygen‐atom” transfer to the substrate upon formation of a transient complex between the activated catalyst and the substrate. Some substrate specificity has also been noted by varying the ligand design. These properties of the tricopper catalyst are characteristic of many enzyme systems, such as cytochrome P450, which participate in biological oxidations.     

Autotrophic biological nitrogen removal from saline wastewater under low DO

BACKGROUND: This study was conducted to investigate the feasibility and performance of nitrogen removal through the complete autotrophic nitrogen removal over nitrite (CANON) process for saline wastewater in a continuous reactor, and to characterize microorganisms in the sludge from the reactor using DNA‐based techniques. RESULTS: The nitrogen removal experiment in the reactor was operated over five phases for 286 days treating a synthetic sewage of 1.2% salinity at 21–25 °C. At dissolved oxygen (DO) concentrations of 0.5–1.0 mg L^?1 and in the presence of glucose, NO₂^? was accumulated, indicating the activity of ammonia‐oxidizing bacteria (AOB). At DO concentration of 0.5 mg L^?1 without organic substrate, the anaerobic ammonium oxidation (Anammox) process was the major pathway responsible for nitrogen removal, with a total nitrogen removal of 70% and an ammonium conversion efficiency of 96%. A maximum ammonium removal rate of 0.57 kg‐N m^?3 d^?1 was achieved during the experimental period. The concentrations of AOB and Anammox bacteria were monitored over the operation of reactor using quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction (qRT‐PCR). CONCLUSION: In this study, autotrophic nitrogen removal process was achieved under salinity condition in a one‐reactor system. An over 100 fold increase of AOB was found due to the increased supply of ammonium at the beginning, then AOB concentration decreased temporarily in correspondence with the decreased DO, and the AOB resumed their concentration at the last phase. The Anammox bacteria abundance was about 150 fold higher than that at the beginning, indicating the successful enrichment of Anammox bacteria in the reactor. Copyright © 2010 Society of Chemical Industry