 The process is dependent on floc characteristics, reaction kinetics, mass loading of readily biodegradable chemical oxygen demand, rbCOD, and the dissolved oxygen, DO, concentration

The oxidation of the ammonium to nitrogen gas has been achieved with attached growth and suspended growth wastewater treatment processes.The most common bacteria responsible for the two step conversion are the autotrophic organisms, "Nitrosomonas" and "Nitrobacter", and many different heterotrophs.The former obtain energy from the oxidation of ammonia, obtain carbon from CO2, and use oxygen as the electron acceptor.