Biofilter Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Type (Biological Aerated Biofilter System, Fixed Films), By Filter Media, By Application, By End-user, By Region, And Segment Forecasts, 2023 - 2030

Report Overview

The global biofilter market size was valued at USD 2,088.8 million in 2022 and is expected to expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.14% from 2023 to 2030. The increasing applications for biofiltration are expected to drive the growth of the market.Since, biofiltration has a wider application in wastewater treatment, gas and oil plants, petrochemicals, and paint industries, the growth remains promising. Some examples of biofiltration are seaweeds, which filter pollutants released from the gills of fish and other aquaculture animals. According to research on horticulture from Penn State University, plant roots combined with limestone and soil can be used to create a biofilter to filter wastewater. Bacteria present in plant roots can eliminate pollutants and convert wastewater into a usable resource.

The increasing initiatives and funding programs by universities to accelerate research in biofiltration are expected to support market growth. For instance, in December 2022, Hawai’i Pacific University received USD 188,000 grant from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The funding is to assist in the scientific assessment of the biofiltration capacity of the limu, and its growth rate.

Similarly, in December 2022, the U.S. Department of Energy awarded USD 280,861 to North Carolina agricultural and technical state university for developing a system for biofiltration-microalgae symbiotic and microalgae-based biochar-hydrogel-iron composite. The system and composite are to enhance microalgal production in wastewater.

Furthermore, the regulatory bodies in developed countries are undertaking stringent actions to implement biofiltration systems for improving water quality. For instance, in November 2022, the New York state Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) penalized the New England Waste Services of NY, Inc., Ontario Count, and Casella Waste Services of Ontario, LLC, for violating various environmental laws. The operators and facility owners are expected to pay USD 500,000 as a penalty. Around USD 250,000 will be invested by the authorities in setting up a biofiltration system in the Marsh Creek wastewater treatment plant.

Moreover, players in the market are constantly developing novel technologies to support biofiltration systems. At the Tekna aquaculture conference that was held in November 2022, NaturalShrimp, Inc. presented hydrogas and electrocoagulation technologies for the aquaculture industry. The technologies enable a system for zero liquid discharge without requiring water exchange to extract unnecessary nitrate buildup while using traditional methods of biofiltration. The development of novel technologies remains an integral part of the growth strategy in the industry.

Type Insights

Biological aerated filter (BAFs) is the fastest-growing sub-segment in the market. It is expected to grow at a CAGR of 12.5% between 2023 and 2030. Since , it is a highly efficient filtration method, owing to its high tolerance level to hydraulic and organic stocks, it is optimal for treating sanitary and complex wastewater.

In July 2021, research was conducted by Malakootian, M., Hosseini, S., and Toolabi, A., on the treatment of effluent extended aeration process through BAF with natural media. The study concluded that the biological aerated filter process in combination with natural date kernel is highly efficient in excluding inorganic and organic contaminants from hospital wastewater. Hence, increasing usage of BAF in various applications, such as hospital wastewater is expected to boost segment growth.

The activated carbon biofilter segment held 24.7% of the biofilter market share in 2022, accounting for the largest proportion of the market. The primary application of activated carbon biofilters is the treatment of municipal wastewater. Researchers are conducting thorough studies to assess the use of the segment in various applications. For instance, a study conducted in January 2022, concluded that the use of carbon biofilter for treating effluent with high organic material can be an efficient technique.

Filter Media Insights

The ceramic ring segment held the largest share of the market in 2022, with 33.4%. It is considered to be significant biological filtration media for applications like filtration systems in aquariums. The ceramic ring filters the uneaten food waste, ammonia released from plant matter, and wastewater in fish tanks. Its advantages such as affordability, denitrifying bacteria, ease-of-use, long-lasting, and ease to clean application are expected to assist the segment to maintain its dominance during the forecast period.

On the other hand, bio balls are anticipated to witness the fastest growth from 2023 to 2030 period. The balls are also known as nitrate factory since it is designed with holes and grooves to accelerate the surface area. This results in the development of various stagnant areas where detritus can be easily captured. Its effectiveness in improving the quality of water is anticipated to be the key growth determinant of the segment.

Application Insights

Volatile organic compounds (VOC) treatment held the largest market share of the market in 2022, valued at USD 648.3 million. Various industries such as automobiles are mandated to build VOC treatment plants by regulatory bodies. For instance, in April 2022, the Michigan Department of Environment issued an order requiring a motor parts manufacturer, ZF Active Safety U.S. Inc. to install a treatment system for chlorinated volatile organic compounds. Since the presence of VOC posed a threat of contamination to the water supply of Milford village.

Odor abatement is projected to have the fastest growth rate during the forecasted period. Regulatory bodies such as Federal Clean Air Act (CAA), has not specifically designed regulation framework for odors. However, there are around 187 dangerous air pollutants that are required to be under control by the U.S. EPA. Biofiltration is one of the measures for removing gaseous pollutants.

End-user Insights

The demand for biofilters for aquarium cleaning and filtration is growing which boosts the biofiltration industry. As per recent research, biofilter manufacturers are developing cost-effective recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) for small capital investment in fish farming. For instance, Aqua Shark company collaborated with BioFishency company to develop simple operating RAS beneficial for fish farmers.

The global biofilter industry is projected to exhibit significant growth in the upcoming years due to the increase in demand for fish farming. The market companies manufacturing biofilters mainly focus on improving the filtration rate and efficiency of the product and increase in sustainability. These factors enhance the overall productivity of the filters which boosts the global biofiltration industry.

The water & wastewater collection sector is the fastest-growing end-user for the biofiltration industry. The increasing water scarcity in various parts of the globe is expected to accelerate the adoption of water reuse and the practice of wastewater treatment to make it drinkable. Biofiltration is an innovative technology to treat drinking water.

Regional Insights

North America accounted for the largest share of the biofiltration industry in 2022, with 41.1%, owing to the presence of major companies, extensive government funding, and an increase in research activities in the region. North America is the leading manufacturer of biofilters as the early implementation of biofiltration technique compared to other regions. The concept of self-cleaning aquariums with the application of biofiltration continues to boost the market growth.

Asia Pacific is expected to grow at a lucrative rate during the forecasted period. Since the region is considered to be a major fishery market globally, contributing to the growth of the market. According to the research paper published in November 2021 bySarayu Krishnan Anand, India, China, Bangladesh, and Vietnam represent the top aquaculture producers in the region. Globally, aquaculture employment size is 18 million people, out of those, 94% come from the Asia Pacific region.

Key Companies & Market Share Insights

The continuous demand for biofiltration solutions by multiple end-users has created numerous market opportunities for major players to capitalize on. For instance, in October 2019, DuPont announced the acquisition of Evoqua Water Technologies Corp. The purpose of this acquisition was to expand the water solution business by adding membrane biofiltration and ultrafiltration technologies to the portfolio. Some of the prominent players in the global biofilter market include:

• Aquael

• Aquaneering, Inc.

• AZOO BIO CORPORATION

• EHEIM GmBh & Co. KG

• Pentair Aquatic Eco-systems, Inc

• Veolia Water Technologies

• Aqua Design Amano Co., Ltd.

• Zoo Med Laboratories, Inc.

• Waterlife Research Ind. Ltd.

Biofilter Market Report Scope

Global Biofilter Market Segmentation

This report forecasts revenue growth at the global, regional, and country levels and provides an analysis of the latest industry trends in each of the sub-segments from 2018 to 2030. For this study, Grand View Research has segmented the global biofilter market report based on type, filter media, application, end-user, and region:

• Type Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2030)

  • Biological Aerated Biofilter System

  • Denitrification Biofilter Systems

  • Activated Carbon Biofilters

  • Fixed Films

  • Fluidized Bed Filter

• Filter Media Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2030)

  • Ceramic Rings

  • Bio Balls

  • Moving Bed Filter Media

  • Others

• Application Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2030)

  • VOC Treatment

  • Nitrification

  • Denitrification

  • Odor Abatement

  • Others

• End-user Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2030)

  • Storm Water Management

  • Water & Wastewater Collection

  • Chemical Processing

  • Food & Beverage

  • Aquaculture

  • Biopharma Industry

  • Others

• Regional Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2030)

  • North America

    • U.S.

    • Canada

  • Europe

    • Germany

    • U.K.

    • France

    • Italy

    • Spain

    • Denmark

    • Sweden

    • Norway

  • Asia Pacific

    • China

    • Japan

    • India

    • South Korea

    • Australia

    • Thailand

  • Latin America

    • Brazil

    • Mexico

    • Argentina

  • Middle East & Africa

    • South Africa

    • Saudi Arabia

    • UAE

    • Kuwait