Editing Filtration (section)

===Biofilms===
{{main|Biofilm}}
Biofilms are often complex communities of bacteria, phages, yeasts and often more complex organisms including [[protozoa]], [[rotifer]]s and [[annelid]]s which form dynamic and complex, frequently gelatinous films on wet substrates. Such biofilms coat the rocks of most rivers and the sea and they provide the key filtration capability of the [[Schmutzdecke]] on the surface of [[slow sand filter]]s and the film on the filter media of [[trickling filter]]s which are used to create potable water and treat sewage respectively.

An example of a biofilm is a biological slime, which may be found in lakes, rivers, rocks, etc. The utilization of single- or dual-species biofilms is a novel technology since natural biofilms are sluggishly developing. The use of biofilms in the biofiltration process allows for the attachment of desirable biomass and critical nutrients to immobilized support. So that water may be reused for various processes, advances in [[biofiltration]] methods assist in removing significant volumes of effluents from [[wastewater]].<ref name="Biofilms">{{cite book|last1=Dave |first1=Sushma |last2=Churi |first2=Hardik |last3=Litoria |first3=Pratiksha |last4=David |first4=Preethi |last5=Das |first5=Jayashankar|title=Membrane-Based Hybrid Processes for Wastewater Treatment|chapter=Chapter 3 - Biofilms, filtration, microbial kinetics and mechanism of degradation: a revolutionary approach |date=18 June 2021|pages=25–43 |doi=10.1016/b978-0-12-823804-2.00018-5 |url=https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-823804-2.00018-5|isbn=9780128238042 |s2cid=237996887 |language=en}}</ref>

Systems for biologically treating wastewater are crucial for enhancing both human health and [[water quality]]. Biofilm technology, the formation of biofilms on various filter media, and other factors have an impact on the growth structure and function of these biofilms. To conduct a thorough investigation of the composition, diversity, and dynamics of biofilms, it also takes on a variety of traditional and contemporary molecular approaches.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Sehar |first1=Shama |last2=Naz |first2=Iffat |chapter=Role of the Biofilms in Wastewater Treatment|editor1-first=Dharumadurai|editor1-last=Dhanasekaran|editor2-first=Nooruddin|editor2-last=Thajuddin|title=Microbial Biofilms - Importance and Applications |date=13 July 2016 |doi=10.5772/63499|isbn=978-953-51-2435-1 |s2cid=5035829 |doi-access=free }}</ref>