Development of a simultaneous partial nitrification, anaerobic ammonia oxidation and denitrification (SNAD) bench scale process for removal of ammonia from effluent of a fertilizer industry

► SNAD process was developed to treat ammonia laden effluent of fertilizer industry. ► Enriched biomass developed stably treated effluent with C/N ratio 0.066. ► 98.9% ammonia removal was achieved in a single reactor. ► Sequencing 16S rDNA showed presence of nitrifiers, denitrifiers & anammox bacteria. ► Quantitative analysis of bacteria revealed their spatial arrangement in reactor.