Design and performance evaluation of biochar biofilters for industrial wastewater treatment
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.51867/scimundi.6.1.31Keywords:
Biochar biofilters, Industrial wastewater treatment, Heavy metals removal, Backwash regeneration, Circular BioeconomyAbstract
The use of biochar biofilters as a sustainable solution for industrial water remediation has become popular. This review presents a summary of existing works on the use of biochar filters for industrial effluent. Factors like design, hydraulic performance, and mechanical durability have been explored. For filter design, key reactor parameters like empty bed contact time (EBCT), hydraulic load ratio (HLR), bed depth, and media configuration were reviewed. The parameters were found to have a significant effect on pressure drop, clogging mechanisms, and backwash requirements. Similarly, the mechanical properties of biochar media, like density, hardness, and attrition resistance, were affected by head loss, media lifespan, and regeneration capability. Case studies like textile pharmaceutical industries and stormwater effluents revealed reductions in colour, heavy metals, and refractory organics. Practical design workframes are provided for scaling systems from laboratory columns to pilot and full-scale levels. EBCT-based sizing, media selection, parallel module operation, and breakthrough monitoring are emphasized for multiscale designs. Regeneration techniques were evaluated in relation to lifecycle durability and end-of-life handling. It was shown that biochar biofilters are suitable for effluent polishing with appropriate hydraulic design, especially when EBCT exceeds 15 minutes. The main remaining challenges that were identified are the control of long-term fouling, standardization of filter-grade biochar, and balancing adsorption capacity with permeability. In future studies, automated fouling control, standardized specifications for filter-grade biochar, and composite media designs that balance adsorption efficiency with hydraulic permeability should be explored.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Eng. David Masara, Dr. Peter Cherop, Dr. Emmanuel Osore, Dr. Henry Barasa
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