Editing Biofilter (section)

==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 [[agricultural wastewater treatment|treatment of animal wastes]],<ref>{{cite journal|author1=G. Buelna, R. Dubé  |author2=N. Turgeon |name-list-style=amp |title=Pig manure treatment by organic bed biofiltration|journal=Desalination |volume=231 |issue=1–3 |pages=297–304 |year=2008|doi=10.1016/j.desal.2007.11.049 |bibcode=2008Desal.231..297B }}</ref> [[landfill]] [[leachate]]s,<ref>{{cite journal|author=M. Heavey|title=Low-cost treatment of landfill leachate using peat|journal=Waste Management|volume=23|issue=5|pages=447–454|year=2003|doi=10.1016/S0956-053X(03)00064-3|pmid=12893018|bibcode=2003WaMan..23..447H }}</ref> [[dairy wastewater]],<ref>{{cite journal|author1=M.G. Healy |author2=M. Rodgers |author3=J. Mulqueen |name-list-style=amp |title=Treatment of dairy wastewater using constructed wetlands and intermittent sand filters|journal=Bioresource Technology |volume=98 |issue=12 |pages=2268–2281 |year=2007|doi=10.1016/j.biortech.2006.07.036 |pmid=16973357 |bibcode=2007BiTec..98.2268H |hdl=10379/2567 |hdl-access=free }}</ref> [[domestic wastewater]].<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Jowett |first1=E. Craig |last2=McMaster |first2=Michaye L. |title=On-Site Wastewater Treatment Using Unsaturated Absorbent Biofilters |journal=Journal of Environmental Quality |date=January 1995 |volume=24 |issue=1 |pages=86–95 |doi=10.2134/jeq1995.00472425002400010012x |bibcode=1995JEnvQ..24...86J }}</ref>

This process is versatile as it can be adapted to small flows (< 1 m3/d), such as onsite [[sewage]]<ref>{{cite journal|vauthors=Talbot P, Bélanger G, Pelletier M, Laliberté G, Arcand Y|title=Development of a biofilter using an organic medium for on-site wastewater treatment|journal=Water Science and Technology|volume=34|issue=3–4|year=1996|doi=10.1016/0273-1223(96)00609-9}}</ref> as well as to flows generated by a municipality (> 240 000 m3/d).<ref>{{cite journal|author1=Y. Bihan  |author2=P. Lessard |name-list-style=amp |title=Use of enzyme tests to monitor the biomass activity of a trickling biofilter treating domestic wastewaters|journal=Journal of Chemical Technology & Biotechnology |volume=75 |issue=11 |pages=1031–1039 |year=2000|doi=10.1002/1097-4660(200011)75:11<1031::AID-JCTB312>3.0.CO;2-A |bibcode=2000JCTB...75.1031B }}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite book|author=R. Lacasse|title=Effectiveness of domestic wastewater treatment technologies in the context of the new constrains imposed by lifestyle changes in north American families|publisher=NOWRA - 18th Annual Technical Education Conference and Expo in Milwaukee|year=2009 |url=http://www.premiertechaqua.com/fr/telechargez/fichiers/00%20Articles%20scientifiques/90%20NOWRApaperR.Lacasse_FR_21052009.pdf|access-date=2013-06-19|url-status=dead|archive-date=2013-10-18|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131018051043/http://www.premiertechaqua.com/fr/telechargez/fichiers/00%20Articles%20scientifiques/90%20NOWRApaperR.Lacasse_FR_21052009.pdf}}</ref> 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.

In anaerobic wastewater treatment facilities, [[biogas]] is fed through a bio-scrubber and “scrubbed” with activated sludge liquid from an aeration tank.<ref>{{cite journal |title=Removal of hydrogen sulfide from an anaerobic biogas using a bio-scrubber |journal=Water Science and Technology |date=1997 |volume=36 |issue=6–7 |doi=10.1016/S0273-1223(97)00542-8 }}</ref> Most commonly found in wastewater treatment is the trickling filter process (TFs) [Chaudhary, 2003]. Trickling filters are an aerobic treatment that uses microorganisms on attached medium to remove organic matter from wastewater.

In primary wastewater treatment, biofiltration is used to control levels of biochemical oxygen, demand, chemical oxygen demand, and suspended solids. In tertiary treatment processes, biofiltration is used to control levels of organic carbon [ Carlson, 1998].