To　investigate　the　fast　start-up　of　CANON　process　and　characterization　of　functional　microbes,　conventional　activated　sludge　was　inoculated　to　an　MBR　and　the　reactor　was　operated　intermediately　at　ambient　temperature.　In　the　launch　strategy,　the　regulation　of　aeration　and　aeration　time　was　used　as　the　main　method.　First,　partial　nitrification　was　applied　under　oxygen-limited　condition.　Secondly,　DO　had　to　be　decreased　further　to　achieve　CANON　process.　Finally,　aeration　time　and　inorganic　carbon　concentration　needed　to　be　adjusted　to　improve　the　total　nitrogen　removal　rate.　Besides,　the　characterization　of　functional　microbes　in　stable　CANON　process　was　analyzed　using　PCR-DGGE　techniques.　The　results　showed　that　the　CANON　process　launched　successfully　after　36　days,　the　ammonium　removal　rate　and　total　nitrogen　removal　rate　were　kept　at　around　99%　and　84%　and　the　maxinum　nitrogen　removal　rate　can　reach　0.41kg/(m3·d).　DGGE　profiles　showed　Nitrosomonas　and　Candidatus　Kuenenia　stuttgartiensis　were　predominant　microbes　in　the　reactor　and　they　worked　synergetically　to　form　an　efficient　autotrophic　nitrogen　removal　process　within　the　MBR.　©,　2014,　Chinese　Society　for　Environmental　Sciences.　All　right　reserved.