The　effect　of　aeration　rate　on　the　efficiency　of　CANON　(completely　autotrophic　nitrogen-removal　over　nitrite)　process　was　studied　to　improve　total　nitrogen　removal　of　ammonium-rich　wastewater.　With　simulated　wastewater　as　influent,　two　kinds　of　CANON　reactors,　which　used　sponge　and　modified　polyethylene　as　carriers　respectively,　were　studied　in　tests.　The　results　showed　that　total　nitrogen　removal　efficiency　and　removal　load　were　closely　related　to　aeration　rate,　the　increase　of　aeration　rate　would　improve　total　nitrogen　removal　of　CANON　reactor　when　aeration　rate　was　less　than　the　limiting　aeration　rate.　For　the　CANON　reactor　which　used　sponge　as　carrier,　when　aeration　rate　was　35.8　m3·m-3·h-1,　the　total　nitrogen　removal　efficiency　reached　the　maximum　value　of　79.48%,　and　total　nitrogen　removal　load　was　2.32　kg·m-3·d-1.　When　aeration　rate　was　more　than　the　limiting　aeration　rate,　the　effect　on　total　nitrogen　removal　remained　stable,　because　the　structure　of　sponge　protected　the　Anammox　bacteria　from　inhibition　by　dissolved　oxygen.　With　sponge　as　carrier,　more　biomass　could　be　retained　in　the　CANON　reactor,　especially　for　Anammox　bacteria,　which　guaranteed　the　stable　operation　of　the　CANON　reactor.　For　the　CANON　reactor　which　used　modified　polyethylene　as　carrier,　when　aeration　rate　was　6.3　m3·m-3·h-1,　the　total　nitrogen　removal　efficiency　reached　the　maximum　value　of　77.6%,　and　total　nitrogen　removal　load　was　1.01　kg·m-3·d-1.　When　aeration　rate　was　more　than　the　limiting　aeration　rate,　the　effect　on　total　nitrogen　removal　deteriorated　because　Anammox　bacteria　were　inhibited　by　dissolved　oxygen.　Less　biomass　could　be　retained,　so　the　reactor　was　less　stable.　©　All　Rights　Reserved.