Review Paper:
Biofilter based
Treatment of Domestic Wastewater: A Systematic Review of Aerobic and Anaerobic Processes
for the Reduction of Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD)
Zairinayati, Aris Citra Wisuda, Norhashima Abd Rashid and Chun Hoe Tan
Res. J. Chem. Environ.; Vol. 29(12); 145-152;
doi: https://doi.org/10.25303/2912rjce1450152; (2025)
Abstract
Domestic wastewater is a significant source of environmental contamination, largely
due to its elevated Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD), which reflects the accumulation
of oxygen-consuming organic matter in water bodies. Biofilter-based systems, including
aerobic and anaerobic processes, have gained attention as sustainable technologies
for BOD reduction. Nonetheless, reported variations in treatment performance highlight
the need for a comprehensive synthesis of available evidence. This systematic review
evaluates the effectiveness of aerobic and anaerobic biofilter applications in lowering
BOD concentrations in domestic wastewater. The review was conducted in accordance
with PRISMA guidelines. Searches were carried out in Scopus, DOAJ, ScienceDirect,
PubMed and Google Scholar using the Publish or Perish software. Eligible studies,
published between 2019 and 2025, were selected through predefined inclusion and
exclusion criteria following the PICOS framework. After removing duplicates, full-text
screening and methodological quality assessment were performed.
From 987 initial records, ten studies satisfied the eligibility criteria. Evidence
indicates that both aerobic and anaerobic biofilters substantially reduce BOD. Aerobic
systems generally provide quicker degradation, while anaerobic systems are more
energy-conserving and generate less sludge. Several reports suggested that sequential
or hybrid configurations of both processes can enhance treatment efficiency. Aerobic
and anaerobic biofilter technologies are effective for mitigating BOD in domestic
wastewater. Integrative systems appear particularly promising due to their synergistic
benefits. Future investigations should prioritize standardizing operational parameters
and exploring the feasibility of large-scale implementation in wastewater management.
