Statistical evaluation of different filter media and application of multiple criteria analysis to select the best media for pollutants removal in wastewater biofiltration: A review

Biofiltration has undergone significant innovation in recent years, making it an essential and versatile technology for wastewater treatment worldwide. Wastewater biofiltration involves using microorganisms attached to the media to degrade and remove contaminants as the wastewater passes through the filter bed. Several filter media have been used in the biofiltration of wastewater under different experimental and pilot-scale conditions. To get a more thorough and generalizable understanding of the efficacy of biofilter media, this review statistically evaluated various wastewater biofilter media and applied multiple criteria analysis on a broad dataset to ascertain which biofilter media is the best for either organic matter (chemical oxygen demand (COD)) or nutrient removal from wastewater. The results indicated that converter slag/coal cinder and plant-based wastes were most suitable for nutrient removal, while synthetic-plastic and ceramic filter media were the most efficient for COD removal. The removal of emerging pollutants via biofiltration of wastewater, as well as other promising emerging wastewater biofilter media, including bioaugmented, biochar, barkcloth, and nanotechnology-assisted media were also reviewed. The results from the current study may serve as a guide for wastewater treatment plants aiming to embrace and optimize biofiltration for maximum organic matter and nutrient removal from wastewater.