The aim of this article is to present an experimental study applying the Rapid Infiltration (RI) technique during the treatment of a landfill leachate in order to remove organic matter and nutrients. The study was conducted in a pilot scale with filter media were of sand and triturated ceramic brick. The monitoring of the reactors performance was made through parameters Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD), Total Suspended Solids (TSS), Phosphorus Total (PTotal), Total Kjeldahl Nitrogen (TKN), N-NH3, N-NO3 -, N-NO2 -, alkalinity pH and temperature. The reactors mean efficiency in the reduction of COD was 32% and NTK 43% for the reactor with sand media, for the reactor with thin sand media the COD was of 27% and TKN of 47% and for the reactor with triturated ceramic brick COD was of 70% and TKN of 54%. The results obtained in this study are very important to subsidy the elaboration of design of the RI process in field scale for landfill leachate treatment, mainly for small towns
leachate; landfill; biologic treatment; rapid infiltration beds
