A series of laboratory-scale experiments for examining the feasibility and suitability of using Fe2+ as the precipitant dosed in the pre-denitrification stage of a modified BAF process employing simultaneous chemical precipitation of TSS and phosphorus were carried out. The effects of dosing Fe2+ on effluent quality and sludge characteristics of the pre-denitrification stage were assessed with comparing to the cases of no additional chemical dosing and dosing Fe3+. Results obtained demonstrated a sound performance of synergistic denitrification and chemical precipitation in pre-denitrification of the modified BAF process when dosing Fe salts, which showed enhanced by using Fe2+ as the dosed precipitant in increasing the denitrification loading rate, exhibiting a better controlling of the residual phosphorus in pre-denitrification effluent, and improving sludge settleability. Dosing Fe salt showed no adverse impact in removing COD, but resulted in a relatively higher SS content in the pre-denitrification effluent. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.