AMX is the world’s most reliable and cost-efficient two-stage Anammox technology—cutting nitrogen with up to 80% O&M savings and 99% less chemical use.
As wastewater treatment plants aim to reduce energy consumption, operating costs, and carbon emissions, the demand for innovative nitrogen removal technologies is rising. BKT’s proprietary AMX technology meets this challenge with a field-proven, low-energy, and highly stable solution based on the anammox (anaerobic ammonium oxidation) process. Developed in Korea, AMX is recognized as the world’s most reliable and economically efficient two-stage anammox system.
What Is AMX and How Does It Work?
AMX utilizes a shortcut biological nitrogen removal pathway. The process begins with partial nitritation (PN), where approximately half of the ammonia in the wastewater is converted to nitrite. This is followed by the anammox reaction, in which specialized bacteria convert ammonia and nitrite directly into nitrogen gas. Unlike conventional nitrification-denitrification systems, AMX does not require an external carbon source or extensive aeration.
The result is a next-generation solution that dramatically reduces energy and chemical use:
- 60% reduction in blower electricity use
- 99% reduction in external carbon source usage
- Up to 80% total O&M savings compared to traditional processes
Why Two-Stage Anammox Matters
Most global Anammox solutions operate with a single-stage system, where both the PN and anammox reactions occur in the same reactor. While space-saving, this design is highly sensitive to influent fluctuations, suspended solids, and high BOD levels.
BKT’s AMX is different. By physically separating the two microbial environments into two reactors—a PN reactor and an Anammox reactor—the system can tolerate high concentrations of organic matter and suspended solids without pre-treatment. This two-stage design not only ensures operational stability but also enables easier microbial management and process control.
Initial concerns about increased footprint were resolved by improving reaction efficiency and reducing overall retention time. In fact, AMX has proven to reduce land and construction costs by more than half compared to traditional sidestream setups.
Korea’s First Commercialized AMX Facility
In 2023, BKT completed the first commercial-scale deployment of a Two-Stage Anammox system in Korea at the Busan Noksan Wastewater Treatment Plant. The facility treats 780 tons of organic waste per day, including 580 tons of sludge and 200 tons of food waste.
The results were exceptional:
- 60% savings in power consumption
- 99% reduction in chemical use
- 49% decrease in sludge handling costs
- More than KRW 1.5 billion (USD $1.1 million) in annual O&M savings
According to official data released by the City of Busan, AMX demonstrated significant advantages compared to the conventional nitrification-denitrification systems used at the Suyeong and Gangbyeon Wastewater Treatment Plants—both also located within Busan.
The comparison showed an 84% reduction in nitrogen removal costs, up to a 93% reduction in land area requirements, and up to a 64% decrease in civil construction costs.
Field-Tested for Both Sidestream and Mainstream Applications
AMX is not just a sidestream solution. At the Hyperion Wastewater Treatment Plant in Los Angeles, USA, its applicability was successfully tested for both mainstream and sidestream processes.
In addition, AMX was evaluated across various types of wastewater—including livestock manure, food waste effluent, landfill leachate, and high-strength industrial wastewater.
Its reliability under diverse operating conditions was confirmed through continuous monitoring and third-party assessments.
This proven versatility enables AMX to maintain high efficiency even under fluctuating influent conditions, making it an ideal solution for facilities managing variable loads or planning to expand biogas and sludge treatment infrastructure.
International Recognition and IP Excellence
BKT’s AMX has earned recognition both domestically and internationally:
- Patent Technology Grand Prize (2020) by the Korean Intellectual Property Office
- Top 10 Global Anammox Technologies by Global Water Intelligence (GWI)
- Selected for WEFTEC Top 50 Papers (2021 and 2024)
- Named one of the Korea Engineering Academy’s Top 14 Environmental Technologies in 2023
AMX is also the only technology worldwide verified for digestate from mixed organic waste sources such as food waste and livestock manure. It is Korea’s first Anammox-based nitrogen removal process to receive environmental new technology certification and performance verification.
Recognized as one of the most robust Anammox strains, Candidatus “Brocadia Sinica” JPN1 delivers exceptional growth under both high and low substrate conditions and retains strong activity in saline environments. It grows twice as fast and withstands salinity up to 3%, outperforming other known Anammox species.
Microbial Cultivation Expertise Sets AMX Apart
At the core of AMX’s success is BKT’s proprietary Anammox bacterial cultivation technology. Cultivating stable and robust Anammox biomass is notoriously difficult, but BKT has mastered this through years of research and controlled bioreactor development.
This capability enables:
- Rapid system startup and recovery
- Stable performance under high organic loading
- Long-term process durability with minimal intervention
Toward a Low-Carbon, High-Efficiency Future
With the rise of Korea’s Biogas Promotion Act and the expansion of integrated organic waste-to-energy systems, AMX is becoming a cornerstone technology for facilities aiming to achieve both energy self-sufficiency and carbon neutrality.
Whether applied to new infrastructure or retrofitted into existing facilities, AMX offers a scalable, economically sound, and ESG-aligned solution for nitrogen removal.
AMX is more than a product—it’s a catalyst for the next generation of climate-smart wastewater treatment.
Looking to cut nitrogen removal costs and boost operational efficiency?
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