An　anoxic/oxic　step　feeding　process　was　improved　to　enhance　nutrient　removal　by　reconfiguring　the　process　into　(1)　anaerobic/anoxic/oxic　step　feeding　process　or　(2)　modified　University　of　Capetown　(UCT)　step　feeding　process.　Enhanced　nitrogen　and　phosphorus　removal　and　optimized　organics　utilization　were　obtained　simultaneously　in　the　modified　UCT　type　with　both　internal　and　sludge　recycle　ratios　of　75%　as　well　as　anaerobic/anoxic/oxic　volume　ratio　of　1:3:6.　Specifically,　the　UCT　configuration　and　optimized　operational　conditions　lead　to　the　enrichment　of　denitrifying　phosphorus　removal　microorganisms　and　achieved　improved　anaerobic　P-release　and　anoxic　P-uptake　activities,　which　were　beneficial　to　the　denitrifying　phosphorus　removal　activities　and　removal　efficiencies.　Due　to　high　mixed　liquor　suspended　solid　and　uneven　distributed　dissolved　oxygen,　35%　of　total　nitrogen　was　eliminated　through　simultaneous　nitrification　and　denitrification　process　in　aerobic　zones.　Moreover,　62　+/-　6%　of　influent　chemical　oxygen　demands　was　involved　in　the　denitrification　or　phosphorus　release　processes.　Crown　Copyright　(C)　2011　Published　by　Elsevier　Ltd.　All　rights　reserved.