H2S biofiltration was carried out under extreme acidic conditions.
Expanded schist topped with a nutritional material UP20 was used as packing material.
A maximum elimination capacity of 24.7 g m−3 h−1 was recorded (H2S up to 250 ppmv).
Watering was efficient to restrict acidification and improve biofilter performance.
Satisfactory H2S removal was achieved through the combination of schist and UP20.