By taking advantage of the separation characteristics of nonlinear gain and dynamic sector inside a Hammerstein model, a novel pole placement self tuning control scheme for nonlinear Hammerstein system was put forward based on the linear system pole placement self tuning control algorithm. And the nonlinear Hammerstein system pole placement self tuning control (NL-PP-STC) algorithm was presented in detail. The identification ability of its parameter estimation algorithm of NL-PP-STC was analyzed, which was always identifiable in closed loop. Two particular problems including the selection of poles and the on-line estimation of model parameters, which may be met in applications of NL-PP-STC to real process control, were discussed. The control simulation of a strong nonlinear pH neutralization process was carried out and good control performance was achieved. (C) 2015 The Chemical Industry and Engineering Society of China, and Chemical Industry Press. All rights reserved.