Skip to main contentNews & ViewsPublished: 17 September 2025Sustainable sludge managementDaying Chen ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0002-4172-31551 &Tao Liu ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0001-7673-747X1,2 Nature Sustainability (2025)Cite this articleSubjectsBiological techniquesBiotechnologyAnaerobic ammonium oxidation (anammox) bacteria, a game-changer in biological wastewater nitrogen removal, are showing promise in real-world applications. Now, researchers report a strategy for rapidly producing valuable anammox seeds from sewage sludge, a by-product of wastewater treatment that requires careful management and disposal.This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institutionAccess optionsAccess Nature and 54 other Nature Portfolio journalsGet Nature+, our best-value online-access subscription27,99 € / 30 dayscancel any timeLearn moreSubscribe to this journalReceive 12 digital issues and online access to articles118,99 € per yearonly 9,92 € per issueLearn moreBuy this articlePurchase on SpringerLinkInstant access to full article PDFBuy nowPrices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkoutFig. 1: Upcycling sewage sludge into anammox seeds.ReferencesLi, L. et al. ACS EST Eng. 3, 1083–1097 (2023).Article CAS Google Scholar Zheng, M. et al. Nat. Sustain. 7, 1395–1404 (2024).Article Google Scholar Sheng, H., Liu, J. & Wang, Y. Nat. Sustain. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41893-025-01635-4 (2025).Article Google Scholar Liu, T. et al. Nat. Water 2, 936–952 (2024).Article CAS Google Scholar Lotti, T. et al. Water Res. 81, 261–268 (2015).Article CAS Google Scholar Zhang, L. et al. Water Res. 116, 296–303 (2017).Article CAS Google Scholar Wett, B. et al. Water Sci. Technol. 68, 283–289 (2013).Article CAS Google Scholar Li, J. et al. Water Res. 160, 178–187 (2019).Article CAS Google Scholar Prokopenko, M. G. et al. Nature 500, 194–198 (2013).Article CAS Google Scholar Xu, M. et al. ISME J. 8, 1932–1944 (2014).Article CAS Google Scholar Download referencesAcknowledgementsT.L. acknowledges the support of the Hong Kong Research Grants Council’s Early Career Scheme (PolyU 25238324).Author informationAuthors and AffiliationsDepartment of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Hong Kong SAR, ChinaDaying Chen & Tao LiuResearch Institute for Sustainable Urban Development (RISUD), The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Hong Kong SAR, ChinaTao LiuAuthorsDaying ChenView author publicationsSearch author on:PubMed Google ScholarTao LiuView author publicationsSearch author on:PubMed Google ScholarCorresponding authorCorrespondence to Tao Liu.Ethics declarationsRights and permissionsReprints and permissionsAbout this article