The ANAMMOX® (Anaerobic Ammonium Oxidation) process is a new biological process representing a major breakthrough in nitrogen removal. The ANAMMOX® process is a very cost-effective and sustainable way of removing ammonium from wastewater and ammonia from waste gas. Compared to conventional nitrification/denitrification the operational costs are reduced by up to 90%, while CO2 emission is reduced up to  90%. Furthermore the plant requires less than half the space taken up by conventional processes. 



The ANAMMOX® conversion is an elegant shortcut in the natural nitrogen cycle. In combination with nitritation ANAMMOX® bacteria convert ammonium (NH4+) directly into dinitrogen gas.
In close collaboration with the Delft University of Technology Paques has developed this process for commercial purposes. In the summer of 2002 the first full-scale ANAMMOX® plant was started up in the Netherlands, At this moment four full scale ANAMMOX® references are operational.

Advantages of ANAMMOX®

• high nitrogen removal
• reduction of CO2 emission up to 90% (compared to conventional nitrification/denitrification)
• up to 50% less space consuming
• reduction of power consumption up to 60% (compared to conventional nitrification/denitrification)
• no methanol consumption
• minimal production of excess sludge

Paques’ experience of more than twenty years in the design, construction and operation of biological wastewater treatment plants was crucial during the scale-up of the ANAMMOX® process. This resulted in an ANAMMOX® reactor that combines very good biomass retention and granule formation with excellent mixing. Effective conversion and stable operation are therefore guaranteed.

Applications
The ANAMMOX® process can be used for the removal of ammonium from all types of effluents with a relatively high ammonium concentration (NH4+-N > 100 mg/l).
Some examples of processes and industries where these effluents can be found are:
• municipal waste water treatment (rejection water from a sludge digester)
• organic solid waste treatment (landfills, composting, digestion)
• food industries
• manure processing industries 
• fertilizer industries
• (petro)chemical industries
• metallurgical industries
• mining industries