Start-up of anammox in a sequencing batch biofilm reactor (SBBR)

A sequencing batch biofilm reactor (SBBR) was applied to start up anaerobic ammonium oxidation (anammox) under anoxic condition in short period. Some characteristics of the anammox SBBR were investigated, including nitrogen removal efficiency, anammox activity, biofilm characteristic and variation of microbial community. Anammox phenomenon was observed after 60 days and the maximum total nitrogen loading rate reached to 0.67 kg-Nm ^-3·d ^-1 with the removal rate of 87.3% after 100-day start-up. The thickness and colour of biofilms obviously changed and the relative abundance of anammox bacteria reached to 40%, being the dominant species. This study demonstrates that a SBBR is an efficient bioreactor for starting up anammox process.