Biofilters

Abstract

Current environmental legislation is focused in removal and/or reducing emissions of pollutants. Biological treatments of wastes are considered as an alternative opposite traditional physicochemical methods. In recent decades, the use of biofilters to removal of contaminants from wastewater and waste gases is being developed. Biofilters use microorganisms, which are capable of degrading many compounds, fixed to an inorganic/organic medium (carrier) to break down pollutants present in a fluid stream. In this article, basic aspects about biofilter configuration, filter media, microorganisms involved, and properties that affect the biofilter performance are presented. Once these aspects are clarified, work deals with the biofilter design. Efforts are focused to summarize the terminology, operational features, and design equations that are essential for this kind of bioreactors. In the design, treatments of liquid and gaseous waste streams, due to the singular differentiating characteristics of these equipments, are distinguished.