This　study　proposed　a　novel　strategy　that　integrates　S0　particles　(diameter:　2–3　mm)　and　granular　sludge　to　establish　S0-driven　partial　denitrification　coupled　with　anammox　(S0PDA)　process　for　autotrophic　nitrogen　removal　from　NH4+-　and　NO3−-containing　wastewaters.　This　process　was　evaluated　using　an　up-flow　anoxic　sludge　bed　bioreactor,　operating　continuously　for　240　days.　The　influent　concentrations　of　NH4+　and　NO3−　were　29.9　±　2.7　and　50.2　±　2.7　mg-N/L,　respectively.　Throughout　the　operation,　the　hydraulic　retention　time　was　shortened　from　4.0　h　to　2.0　h,　while　the　effluent　concentrations　of　NH4+　and　NO3−　were　maintained　at　a　desirable　level　of　1.45–1.51　mg-N/L　and　4.46–6.52　mg-N/L,　respectively.　Despite　an　autotrophic　process,　the　nitrogen　removal　efficiency　and　rate　reached　up　to　88.5　±　2.0　%　and　1.75　±　0.07　kg-N/(m3·d),　respectively,　indicating　the　remarkable　robustness　of　the　S0PDA　process.　Autotrophic　anammox　and　sulfur-oxidizing　bacteria　(Candidatus　Brocadia　and　Thiobacillus)　were　the　predominant　bacterial　genera　involved　in　the　S0PDA　process.　Candidatus　Brocadia　was　primarily　enriched　in　the　granular　sludge,　with　a　relative　abundance　of　6.70　%.　Thiobacillus　occupied　a　unique　niche　on　the　S0　particles,　with　a　relative　abundance　as　high　as　57.6　%,　of　which　Thiobacillus　thioparus　with　partial　denitrification　function　(reducing　NO3−　to　NO2−　without　further　reduction　to　N2)　accounted　for　78.0　%.　These　findings　challenge　the　stereotype　of　low　efficiency　in　autotrophic　nitrogen　removal　from　wastewater,　shedding　fresh　light　on　the　applications　of　autotrophic　processes.　©　2024