Interactions between microbial extracellular polymeric substances and biochar, and their potential applications: a review

Abstract This review synthesizes the current understanding of the interactions between microorganisms, extracellular polymeric substances (EPS), and biochar and their collective application in environmental remediation. Microorganisms and their EPS play pivotal roles in biofilm formation, enhancing microbial resistance to environmental stress, and facilitating pollutant degradation. Biochar, derived from biomass pyrolysis, provides a porous structure that offers a habitat for microorganisms and is an efficient adsorbent for organic pollutants. The synergistic effects of microbial−EPS−biochar interactions improve pollutant removal capacity and soil fertility. The review highlights four fundamental mechanisms of…