Korean food wastes were anaerobically digested to produce volatile fatty acids (VFA) that can be used as a carbon source in biological nutrient removal in a sequential batch reactor (SBR). Acetate, propionate and butyrate were produced at a yield of 379±400 g VFA/kg VS 0 (initial volatile solids). The ratio of SCOD (Soluble Chemical Oxygen Demand) of VFA to ammonia nitrogen (N) was in the range of 36.2±36.5 and the ratio of SCOD to phosphorus was between 151 and 162. The removal rate of nitrogen and phosphorus improved from 44% and 37% to 92% and 73%, respectively when the VFA were added to the in¯uent of the Taejon municipal wastewater plant. The concentration of nitrogen and phosphorus were maintained below 3 mg/l and 1 mg/l, respectively. The N-and P-content of the food waste was low enough not to in¯uence the ®nal N-and P-concentrations of the wastewater.

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