In this study, the performance of partial nitrification via nitrite at low temperature was investigated in a pilot-scale sequencing batch reactor (SBR) with a working volume of 7.0 m(3). A novel real-time control strategy, based on blower frequency (BF) and pH, was designed and evaluated. The nitrogen break point (NBP) in the BF curve and the nitrate/nitrite apex point (NAP) in the pH curve were used to identify the endpoint of the aerobic and anoxic phases, respectively. The nitrite accumulation rate (NAR) rapidly increased from 19.8% to 90%. Partial nitrification was achieved at low temperature (11-16 degrees C) in 40 days and was stably maintained for as long as 140 days by applying a real-time control strategy based on pH and BF. Fluorescence in situ hybirdization (FISH) results demonstrated that ammonia oxidation bacteria (AOB) had developed into the dominant nitrifying bacteria compared to nitrite oxidation bacteria (NOB) in the system. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.