The　metabolism　of　anammox　coupling　heterotrophic　denitrification　process　was　investigated　by　continuous　cultivation　and　serum　bottle　batch　tests.　Under　the　conditions　of　pH　of　7.8,　water　temperature　of　25℃,　hydraulic　detention　time　(HRT)　of　1.5　h　and　phenol　concentration　of　18.82　mg/L,　coupling　reactor　could　operate　stably　for　a　long　time.　The　results　show　that　the　removal　rates　of　ammonia　and　nitrite　are　as　high　as　100%,　respectively,　while　the　removal　rate　of　TN　is　87.51%.　The　ratio　of　removed　NH4+-N,　reomved　NO2--N　and　generated　NO3--N　is　1:1.49:0.12,　the　average　total　nitrogen　volumetric　loading　rate　is　2.53/kg(m3·d),　and　the　average　total　nitrogen　volumetric　removal　rate　reaches　2.26　kg/(m3·d).　The　relationship　between　heterotrophic　denitrification　and　anammox　is　cooperative　and　competitive　in　the　system　while　total　nitrogen　is　removed　through　the　joint　action　of　denitrifying　bacteria　and　ANAMMOX　bacteria.　In　the　coupling　system,　the　proportion　of　nitrogen　removal　through　ANAMMOX　is　86.72%　of　the　total　nitrogen　removal,　however,　the　heterotrophic　denitrification　takes　up　13.28%　(the　proportion　of　denitrification　using　NO2--N　as　the　electron　acceptor　is　7.16%,　the　proportion　of　denitrification　using　NO3--N　as　the　electron　acceptor　is　5.89%).　The　study　of　sludge　character　indicates　that　the　granular　sludge　has　three　types:　ANAMMOX　granular　sludge,　phenol　denitrifying　granular　sludge　and　ANAMMOX　granular　sludge　coated　by　phenol　denitrifying　bacteria.　In　addition,　the　granular　sludge　has　a　high　inorganic　component.　The　sludge　scanning　electron　microscope　photos　illustrate　that　ANAMMOX　bacteria　is　spherical　and　denitrification　bacteria　is　short　rod.