Ferric nitrate was utilized to remove inhibition of excessive volatile fatty acids (VFAs) in autothermal thermophilic aerobic digestion (ATAD) by chemical precipitation in this study. The dosage of Fe(NO3)(3) had a significant effect on performance of the ATAD process and a dosage gradient of Fe(NO3)(3) equivalent to 500, 1000, 1500, 2000 mg/L for the removal of acetic acid was adopted. The lowest concentrations of total VFA (TVFA) and VFAs but highest content of ATP were found in the digester with a dosage of Fe(NO3)(3) equivalent to 1000 mg/L removal of acetic acid (D2) and VS removal of 40.28% was obtained in D2 after 14 days digestion, which achieved stabilization 7 days earlier than the digester without any additions. Furthermore, VS removal of 45.51% was observed after 21 days digestion in D2. Hence, chemical precipitation with Fe(NO3)3 was an effective method for disinhibition of VFAs in ATAD when dosage of Fe(NO3)(3) equivalent to 1000 mg/L removal of acetic acid was added on the 6th day. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.