“…In the first step, the hard biodegradable organics diffused into the core of carrier from liquid bulk due to the concentration gradient; in the second step, the hard biodegradable organics were degraded by anaerobic hydrolization and acidification processing and converted into biodegradable organics, such as volatile fatty acids; in the third step, the biodegradable intermediate products diffused to the liquid bulk from carrier; finally, the biodegradable intermediate products were degraded by aerobic microorganisms, in the liquid bulk immediately. The synergetic effects between aerobic and anaerobic degradation were remarkably enhanced in the integrated IALR [26,27]. The anaerobic degradation, which converted the hard biodegradable organics to a substance that could be consumed by the aerobic microorganism, facilitated the aerobic process; at the same time, the continuous consumption of anaerobic product by aerobic metabolism, enhanced the anaerobic hydrolyzation and acidification against the negative effects of the accumulation of the anaerobic products.…”