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Biofilter
Biofiltration is a pollution control technique using a bioreactor
containing living material to capture and biologically degrade
pollutants. Common uses include processing waste water, capturing
harmful chemicals or silt from surface runoff, and microbiotic
oxidation of contaminants in air.

Contents Biosolids composting plant biofilter

mound - note sprinkler visible front
Examples of biofiltration right to maintain proper moisture
Control of air pollution level for optimum functioning

Water treatment
Biofiltration process
Types of filtering media
Advantages
Drawbacks
Drinking water
Wastewater
Use in aquaculture
See also
References
External links

Examples of biofiltration
Examples of biofiltration include:

Bioswales, biostrips, biobags, bioscrubbers, Vermifilters and trickling filters

Constructed wetlands and natural wetlands
Slow sand filters
Treatment ponds
Green belts
Green walls
Riparian zones, riparian forests, bosques
Bivalve bioaccumulation

Control of air pollution

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When applied to air filtration and purification, biofilters use microorganisms to remove air pollution.[1]
The air flows through a packed bed and the pollutant transfers into a thin biofilm on the surface of the
packing material. Microorganisms, including bacteria and fungi are immobilized in the biofilm and
degrade the pollutant. Trickling filters and bioscrubbers rely on a biofilm and the bacterial action in their
recirculating waters.

The technology finds greatest application in treating malodorous compounds and water-soluble volatile
organic compounds (VOCs). Industries employing the technology include food and animal products, off-
gas from wastewater treatment facilities, pharmaceuticals, wood products manufacturing, paint and
coatings application and manufacturing and resin manufacturing and application, etc. Compounds
treated are typically mixed VOCs and various sulfur compounds, including hydrogen sulfide. Very large
airflows may be treated and although a large area (footprint) has typically been required—a large
biofilter (>200,000 acfm) may occupy as much or more land than a football field—this has been one of
the principal drawbacks of the technology. Engineered biofilters, designed and built since the early
1990s, have provided significant footprint reductions over the conventional flat-bed, organic media type.

One of the main challenges to optimum biofilter operation is

maintaining proper moisture throughout the system. The air is
normally humidified before it enters the bed with a watering (spray)
system, humidification chamber, bioscrubber, or biotrickling filter.
Properly maintained, a natural, organic packing media like peat,
vegetable mulch, bark or wood chips may last for several years but
engineered, combined natural organic, and synthetic component
packing materials will generally last much longer, up to 10 years. A
number of companies offer these types or proprietary packing
materials and multi-year guarantees, not usually provided with a
Air cycle system at biosolids
conventional compost or wood chip bed biofilter. composting plant. Large duct in
foreground is exhaust air into
Although widely employed, the scientific community is still unsure biofilter shown in previous photo
of the physical phenomena underpinning biofilter operation, and
information about the microorganisms involved continues to be
developed. A biofilter/bio-oxidation system is a fairly simple device to construct and operate and offers a
cost-effective solution provided the pollutant is biodegradable within a moderate time frame (increasing
residence time = increased size and capital costs), at reasonable concentrations (and lb/hr loading rates)
and that the airstream is at an organism-viable temperature. For large volumes of air, a biofilter may be
the only cost-effective solution. There is no secondary pollution (unlike the case of incineration where
additional CO2 and NOx are produced from burning fuels) and degradation products form additional
biomass, carbon dioxide and water. Media irrigation water, although many systems recycle part of it to
reduce operating costs, has a moderately high biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) and may require
treatment before disposal. However, this "blowdown water", necessary for proper maintenance of any
bio-oxidation system, is generally accepted by municipal publicly owned treatment works without any
pretreatment.

Biofilters are being utilized in Columbia Falls, Montana at Plum Creek Timber Company's fiberboard
plant.[2] The biofilters decrease the pollution emitted by the manufacturing process and the exhaust
emitted is 98% clean. The newest, and largest, biofilter addition to Plum Creek cost $9.5 million, yet
even though this new technology is expensive, in the long run it will cost less overtime than the
alternative exhaust-cleaning incinerators fueled by natural gas (which are not as environmentally
friendly).

Water treatment
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Biofiltration was first introduced in England in 1893 as a trickling

filter for wastewater treatment and has since been successfully used
for the treatment of different types of water.[4] Biological treatment
has been used in Europe to filter surface water for drinking purposes
since the early 1900s and is now receiving more interest worldwide.
Biofiltration is also common in wastewater treatment, aquaculture
and greywater recycling, as a way to minimize water replacement
while increasing water quality.

Biofiltration process

A biofilter is a bed of media on which microorganisms attach and

grow to form a biological layer called biofilm. Biofiltration is thus
usually referred to as a fixed–film process. Generally, the biofilm is A typical complete trickling filter
formed by a community of different microorganisms (bacteria, system for treating wastewaters.[3]
fungi, yeast, etc.), macro-organisms (protozoa, worms, insect's
larvae, etc.) and extracellular polymeric substances (EPS)
(Flemming and Wingender, 2010). The aspect of the biofilm[5] is
usually slimy and muddy.

Water to be treated can be applied intermittently or continuously

over the media, via upflow or downflow. Typically, a biofilter has two
or three phases, depending on the feeding strategy (percolating or
submerged biofilter):

a solid phase (media);

a liquid phase (water);
Image 1: A schematic cross-section
a gaseous phase (air).
of the contact face of the bed media
in a trickling filter.
Organic matter and other water components diffuse into the biofilm
where the treatment occurs, mostly by biodegradation. Biofiltration
processes are usually aerobic, which means that microorganisms
require oxygen for their metabolism. Oxygen can be supplied to the biofilm, either concurrently or
countercurrently with water flow. Aeration occurs passively by the natural flow of air through the
process (three phase biofilter) or by forced air supplied by blowers.

Microorganisms' activity is a key-factor of the process performance. The main influencing factors are the
water composition, the biofilter hydraulic loading, the type of media, the feeding strategy (percolation or
submerged media), the age of the biofilm, temperature, aeration, etc.

Types of filtering media

Most biofilters use media such as sand, crushed rock, river gravel, or some form of plastic or ceramic
material shaped as small beads and rings.[6]

Advantages

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Although biological filters have simple superficial structures, their internal hydrodynamics and the
microorganisms' biology and ecology are complex and variable.[7] These characteristics confer
robustness to the process. In other words, the process has the capacity to maintain its performance or
rapidly return to initial levels following a period of no flow, of intense use, toxic shocks, media backwash
(high rate biofiltration processes), etc.

The structure of the biofilm protects microorganisms from difficult environmental conditions and
retains the biomass inside the process, even when conditions are not optimal for its growth. Biofiltration
processes offer the following advantages: (Rittmann et al., 1988):

Because microorganisms are retained within the biofilm, biofiltration allows the development of
microorganisms with relatively low specific growth rates;
Biofilters are less subject to variable or intermittent loading and to hydraulic shock;[8]
Operational costs are usually lower than for activated sludge;
Final treatment result is less influenced by biomass separation since the biomass concentration at
the effluent is much lower than for suspended biomass processes;
Attached biomass becomes more specialized (higher concentration of relevant organisms) at a given
point in the process train because there is no biomass return.[9]

Drawbacks

Because filtration and growth of biomass leads to an accumulation of matter in the filtering media, this
type of fixed-film process is subject to bioclogging and flow channeling. Depending on the type of
application and on the media used for microbial growth, bioclogging can be controlled using physical
and/or chemical methods. Whenever possible, backwash steps can be implemented using air and/or
water to disrupt the biomat and recover flow. Chemicals such as oxidizing (peroxide, ozone) or biocide
agents can also be used.

Drinking water
For drinking water, biological water treatment involves the use of naturally occurring microorganisms in
the surface water to improve water quality. Under optimum conditions, including relatively low turbidity
and high oxygen content, the organisms break down material in the water and thus improve water
quality. Slow sand filters or carbon filters are used to provide a support on which these microorganisms
grow. These biological treatment systems effectively reduce water-borne diseases, dissolved organic
carbon, turbidity and color in surface water, thus improving overall water quality.

Wastewater
Biofiltration is used to treat wastewater from a wide range of sources, with varying organic compositions
and concentrations. Many examples of biofiltration applications are described in the literature. Bespoke
biofilters have been developed and commercialized for the treatment of animal wastes,[10] landfill
leachates,[11] dairy wastewater,[12] domestic wastewater.[13]

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This process is versatile as it can be adapted to small flows (< 1 m3/d), such as onsite sewage[14] as well
as to flows generated by a municipality (> 240 000 m3/d).[15] For decentralized domestic wastewater
production, such as for isolated dwellings, it has been demonstrated that there are important daily,
weekly and yearly fluctuations of hydraulic and organic production rates related to modern families'
lifestyle.[16] In this context, a biofilter located after a septic tank constitutes a robust process able to
sustain the variability observed without compromising the treatment performance.

Use in aquaculture
The use of biofilters is common in closed aquaculture systems, such as recirculating aquaculture systems
(RAS). Many designs are used, with different benefits and drawbacks, however the function is the same:
reducing water exchanges by converting ammonia to nitrate. Ammonia (NH4+ and NH3) originates from
the brachial excretion from the gills of aquatic animals and from the decomposition of organic matter. As
ammonia-N is highly toxic, this is converted to a less toxic form of nitrite (by Nitrosomonas sp.) and
then to an even less toxic form of nitrate (by Nitrobacter sp.). This "nitrification" process requires
oxygen (aerobic conditions), without which the biofilter can crash. Furthermore, as this nitrification
cycle produces H+, the pH can decrease which necessitates the use of buffers such as lime.

See also
Bioretention
Folkewall
Media filter
Vermifilter

References
1. Joseph S. Devinny, Marc A. Deshusses and Todd S. Webster (1999). Biofiltration for Air Pollution
Control. Lewis Publishers. ISBN 978-1-56670-289-8.
2. Lynch, Keriann (2008-10-26). " 'Bug farm' a breath of fresh air" (http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2
008/oct/26/bug-farm-a-breath-of-fresh-air). Spokesman Review.
3. Beychok, Milton R. (1967). Aqueous Wastes from Petroleum and Petrochemical Plants (1st ed.).
John Wiley & Sons Ltd. LCCN 67019834 (https://lccn.loc.gov/67019834).
4. D.S. Chaudhary, S. Vigneswara, H.-H. Ngo, W.G. Shim and H. Moon (2003). Biofilter in water and
wastewater treatment (https://web.archive.org/web/20140513215704/http://josiah.berkeley.edu/Pape
rs/biofilterReview2003.pdf) (PDF). The Korean Journal of Chemical Engineering Vol.20 No.6.
Archived from the original (http://josiah.berkeley.edu/Papers/biofilterReview2003.pdf) (PDF) on 2014-
05-13. Retrieved 2013-06-18.
5. H.C. Flemming & J. Wingender (2010). "The biofilm matrix". Nature Reviews Microbiology. 8 (9):
623–633. doi:10.1038/nrmicro2415 (https://doi.org/10.1038%2Fnrmicro2415). PMID 20676145 (http
s://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20676145).
6. Ebeling, James. "Biofiltration-Nitrification Design Overview" (https://cals.arizona.edu/azaqua/ista/IST
A7/RecircWorkshop/Workshop%20PP%20%20&%20Misc%20Papers%20Adobe%202006/7%20Biof
iltration/Nitrification-Biofiltration/Biofiltration-Nitrification%20Design%20Overview.pdf) (PDF).
Retrieved November 25, 2018.
7. C.R. Curds & H.A. Hawkes (1983). Ecological Aspects of Used-Water Treatment (https://books.googl
e.com/?id=D0FRAAAAMAAJ). The Processes and their Ecology Vol.3. ISBN 9780121995027.

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8. P.W. Westerman; J.R. Bicudo & A. Kantardjieff (1998). Aerobic fixed-media biofilter treatment of
flushed swine manure (http://eurekamag.com/research/003/032/aerobic-fixed-media-biofilter-cure-flu
shed-pig-manure.php). ASAE Annual International Meeting - Florida.
9. H. Odegaard (2006). Innovations in wastewater treatment: the moving bed biofilm process (https://w
eb.archive.org/web/20131018001647/http://www.iwaponline.com/wst/05309/wst053090017.htm).
Water Science Technology. Archived from the original (http://www.iwaponline.com/wst/05309/wst053
090017.htm) on 2013-10-18. Retrieved 2013-06-19.
10. G. Buelna, R. Dubé & N. Turgeon (2008). "Pig manure treatment by organic bed biofiltration".
Desalination. 231 (1–3): 297–304. doi:10.1016/j.desal.2007.11.049 (https://doi.org/10.1016%2Fj.des
al.2007.11.049).
11. M. Heavey (2003). "Low-cost treatment of landfill leachate using peat". Waste Management. 23 (5):
447–454. doi:10.1016/S0956-053X(03)00064-3 (https://doi.org/10.1016%2FS0956-053X%2803%29
00064-3). PMID 12893018 (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12893018).
12. M.G. Healy; M. Rodgers & J. Mulqueen (2007). "Treatment of dairy wastewater using constructed
wetlands and intermittent sand filters". Bioresource Technology. 98 (12): 2268–2281.
doi:10.1016/j.biortech.2006.07.036 (https://doi.org/10.1016%2Fj.biortech.2006.07.036).
hdl:10379/2567 (https://hdl.handle.net/10379%2F2567). PMID 16973357 (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.ni
h.gov/16973357).
13. E.C. Jowett & M.L. McMaster (1995). On-site wastewater treatment using unsaturated absorbent
biofilters (https://www.soils.org/publications/jeq/abstracts/24/1/JEQ0240010086). Journal of
Environmental Quality.
14. P. Talbot, G. Bélanger, M. Pelletier, G. Laliberté and Y. Arcand (1996). "Development of a biofilter
using an organic medium for on-site wastewater treatment". Water Science and Technology. 34 (3–
4). doi:10.1016/0273-1223(96)00609-9 (https://doi.org/10.1016%2F0273-1223%2896%2900609-9).
15. Y. Bihan & P. Lessard (2000). "Use of enzyme tests to monitor the biomass activity of a trickling
biofilter treating domestic wastewaters". Journal of Chemical Technology & Biotechnology. 75 (11):
1031–1039. doi:10.1002/1097-4660(200011)75:11<1031::AID-JCTB312>3.0.CO;2-A (https://doi.org/
10.1002%2F1097-4660%28200011%2975%3A11%3C1031%3A%3AAID-JCTB312%3E3.0.CO%3B
2-A).
16. R. Lacasse (2009). Effectiveness of domestic wastewater treatment technologies in the context of
the new constrains imposed by lifestyle changes in north American families (http://www.premiertecha
qua.com/fr/telechargez/fichiers/00%20Articles%20scientifiques/90%20NOWRApaperR.Lacasse_FR
_21052009.pdf) (PDF). NOWRA - 18th Annual Technical Education Conference and Expo in
Milwaukee.

External links
Bioswales and strips for storm runoff (http://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/env/stormwater/ongoing/pilot_studie
s/bmps/details/bs_strips/) - California Dept. of Transportation (CalTrans)

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