Denitrification is a self-alkalization process. In this experiment, the characteristics of self-alkalization in high-rate heterotrophic denitrifying automatic circulation (DAC) reactor fed with methanol and sodium acetate were investigated, respectively. The results showed that, (1) The self-alkalization of high-rate denitrifying reactors was remarkably strong both with methanol and sodium acetate as carbon sources, while the effluent pH was much lower than the stoichiometric values and the malfunction from self-alkalization of denitrification was far less serious than expected. (2) The self-adaptation of the reactors was attributed to the neutralization of carbon dioxide (oxidization product of organic matter) and the self-adaptation of denitrifying sludge. The formation and discharge of calcium carbonate precipitates gave rise to lower effluent pH and alkalinity than the stoichiometric values. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.