Physiological and kinetic characterization of a suspended cell anammox culture

• A method for growing a highly enriched anammox suspension was univocally described.
• Novel method for kinetic characterization combining modeling and process dynamics.
• The intrinsic nitrite half saturation constant was identified to be equal to 35 μg-N L−1.
• A biomass specific maximum growth rate of 0.21 d−1 was calculated.

Anammox related technologies are currently widely applied for nitrogen removal from sewage sludge digester rejection water. Nevertheless, many aspects of the anammox process like the kinetic characteristics and the reaction stoichiometry are still subject of debate. Parameter values reported in literature are often hampered by mass transfer limitation or by the presence of a significant side population. In this study a membrane bioreactor (MBR) based method for growing a highly enriched anammox microbial community is described. The almost pure free-cells suspension of highly active anammox bacteria was used for detailed kinetic and stoichiometric analysis of the anammox process. The anammox culture enriched during this study had a biomass specific maximum growth rate of 0.21 d−1 which is higher than ever reported before in literature. Using an experimental methodology based on imposing dynamic process conditions combined with process modeling and parameter estimation, the intrinsic nitrite half saturation constant was identified to be as low as 35 μg-N L−1. This was confirmed to be an accurate estimation in the pH range of 6.8–7.5.

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