[Effect of injected leachate C/N ratio on the denitrification of a bioreactor filled with landfilled refuse].

The denitrification capacity of a landfill bioreactor was investigated under different ratios of injected leachate C/N; the denitrifying bacteria community compositions over four injection times were also studied using molecular approaches and functional gene nirS served as marker. Results showed that COD/NO3(-) -N ratio of the injected landfill leachate had a significant impact on the denitrification capacity of the bioreactor. Nitrate reduction rate increased from 1.14 mg x (kg x h)(-1) to 11.40 mg mg x (kg x h)(-1) when the injected leachate COD/NO3(-) -N ratio raised from 3.11 to 13.08. It suggested that a stable and rapid denitrification could be obtained when bioavailable COD/NO3(-) -N ratio in the injected leachate was 6.37. In the bioreactor, the main denitrifying bacteria was similar to beta-proteobacteria, and others belonged to uncultured bacteria. Thiobacillus denitrificans and Azoarcus tolulyticus known as beta-proteobacteria were the dominant species and played an important role in NO3(-) -N consumption during the leachate injection.