Abstract: An dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) system in atmospheric pressure utilized for the treatment of industrial landfill leachate is reported. The discharge parameters, such as the operating frequency, gas flow rate, and treating duration, were found to affect significantly the removal of ammonia nitrogen (AN) in industrial landfill leachate. An increase in treating duration leads to an obvious increase in the removal efficiency of AN (up to 83%) and the leachate color changed from deep grey-black to transparent. Thus the dielectric barrier discharges in atmospheric pressure could degrade the landfill leachate effectively. Typical waveforms of both applied voltage and discharge current were also presented for analyzing the discharge processes under different discharge parameters. Optical emission spectra measurements indicate that oxidation species generated in oxygen DBD plasma play a crucial role in removing AN, oxidizing organic and inorganic substances and decolorizing the landfill leachate.