The performance of high-loading composite anammox reactor and its long-term recovery from extreme substrates inhibition

A composite reactor combined with granule and biofilm in one single SBR was developed for high-rate anammox operation. Low activity flocculent inoculum was used as seed sludge and the nitrogen loading rate reached 10.62 kg N m−3 d−1 after 93 days’ operation. Subsequently, the performance of high-loading anammox reactor under fluctuation condition was investigated. Due to the extremely short hydraulic retention time and high-strength substrates, the reactor presented dramatic substrates accumulation which resulted in severe inhibition subsequently. Nevertheless, the composite reactor presented significant recovery potential even after biomass hydrolysis caused by inhibition, mainly due to the protection and promotion supplied by biofilm. Besides, granules were gradually formed and accumulated from the flocculent sludge directly during the recovery operation, further elevating the reactor performance. The nitrogen loading rate and corresponding nitrogen removal rate achieved 20.30 and 18.01 kg N m−3 d−1 with total nitrogen in the influent of 1500 mg/l finally.