biofilter

This term is primarily used in technical, environmental, and engineering contexts. It describes a system where living organisms perform the actual filtration, distinguishing it from mechanical filters that rely on physical sieving or chemical filters that use reactions.

In industrial applications, the term often refers to large-scale installations for air scrubbing or wastewater treatment. In hobbyist contexts, such as aquarium maintenance, it refers to the biological media where nitrifying bacteria colonize to neutralize toxic ammonia.