Increasing importance of anammox process: The present status and its development trend in municipal wastewater treatment system

Abstract

Anaerobic ammonium oxidation processes for the removal of nitrogen from municipal wastewater (known as 'mainstream anammox') are being involved in an on-going paradigm shift of the next generation of wastewater treatment plants due to their energy and resource efficiency. This review aims to present and summarize the recent research results of nitrogen removal performance and mechanism on mainstream anammox for its further successful application. The commonly encountered barriers are also discussed. It is proposed that the improvement of technology and the development of the mechanism for industrial application in municipal wastewater treatment are necessary. In particular, a framework of operable solutions to these difficulties and challenges is suggested and the partial denitratation/anammox process for treating municipal wastewater is specifically indicated as a significant research direction of new anammox development.