Anammox means:
- "anaerobic ammonium oxidation".
- a spectacular microbial way of life.
- the largest single source of dinitrogen gas on Earth.
- the slowest bacterium in culture (see picture to the right).
- a new low-cost method for N-removal in wastewater treatment (90% of operational costs savings and CO2 emission cuts, compared to conventional nitrification/denitrification at lower investment costs).
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NH4+ + NO2- = N2 + 2H2O
- a one billion-base-pair metagenome (so far the second largest after the Sargasso Sea)
- At least three genera of bacteria: Brocadia anammoxidans, Kuenenia stuttgartiensis and Scalindua sorokinii.
- At least three patents; licences can be obtained from Paques BV.
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anammox reactor at the Department of Microbiology,
Radboud University Nijmegen
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