Partial nitritation (PN) was fast started up in MBR within 19 days.
The free ammonia overwhelmingly restrained the activity of NOB.
Suitable feed was generated by PN with the optimal DO of 0.8–0.9 mg/L.
Nitrosospira sp. YKU corresponded to implement ammonium oxidation.
The MBR promises potential merit to implement one-stage nitritation and anmmox.