Characterization of Extracellular Polymeric Substances by Microscopic Imaging Techniques in Wastewater Biotreatment: A Review

Extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) are an important part of microbial aggregates in wastewater biotreatment. EPS maintain the spatial arrangement of microbial aggregates and greatly affect the structure and properties. The production and distribution of EPS can reflect the attachment and aggregation of microorganisms. Microscopic imaging technique (MIT) can visually show the apparent morphology, content, spatial distribution, adhesion, and adsorption of EPS of microbial aggregates in wastewater biotreatment. First, in the review, the characteristics of EPS are summarized. Then we describe the principles, applications, and features of scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, confocal laser scanning microscopy, atomic force microscopy, and their joint techniques in the characterization of the appearance, content, distribution, and properties of EPS in microbial aggregates, to provide reference for MIT application. Although MITs are widely used to characterize EPS properties, there are still problems such as complicated sample preparation, inability to analyze EPS quantitatively, and inability to perform dynamic characterization. To better characterize the EPS in microbial aggregate, we summarized and prospected the MIT. The current trend shows that in the future, real-time observation of EPS changes in microbial aggregates and multitechnique combination to characterize EPS will be developed and applied.

• Publication year

  2022

• Venue

  Hazardous Waste

• Publication date

  2022-02-11

• Fields of study

  Not labeled

• Identifiers
  DOI 10.1089/ees.2021.0199
• External record

  Open on Semantic Scholar

• Source metadata

  Semantic Scholar

• No claims are published for this paper.

• No concepts are published for this paper.

• Understanding the dependence of start-up and stability of aerobic granule on pH from the perspective of adhesion behavior and properties of extracellular polymeric substances.

  2021cited by this paper
• Importance of exopolysaccharide branched chains in determining the aggregation ability of anammox sludge.

  2020influential reference
• Understanding the mechanism in aggregation ability between aerobic and anammox granular sludge from the perspective of exopolysaccharides

  2020influential reference
• The branched chains and branching degree of exopolysaccharides affecting the stability of anammox granular sludge.

  2020influential reference
• Hydrogels formed by anammox extracellular polymeric substances: structural and mechanical insights

  2019cited by this paper
• Role of extracellular polymeric substances in biofilm formation by Pseudomonas stutzeri strain XL-2

  2019cited by this paper
• Impact of molecular structure and charge property of chitosan based polymers on flocculation conditioning of advanced anaerobically digested sludge for dewaterability improvement.

  2019influential reference
• Bio-oxidation of elemental mercury during growth of mercury resistant yeasts in simulated hydrosphere.

  2019cited by this paper
• In situ characterizations for EPS-involved microprocesses in biological wastewater treatment systems

  2019influential reference
• Potential role of bacterial extracellular polymeric substances as biosorbent material for arsenic bioremediation

  2019cited by this paper
• Insight Into Interactions of Thermoacidophilic Archaea With Elemental Sulfur: Biofilm Dynamics and EPS Analysis

  2019influential reference
• Putative Role of Bacterial Biosorbent in Metal Sequestration Revealed by SEM–EDX and FTIR

  2019cited by this paper
• Effects of temperature variation on wastewater sludge electro-dewatering

  2019influential reference
• Purification, characterization and anticancer activities of exopolysaccharide produced by Rhodococcus erythropolis HX-2.

  2019cited by this paper
• Effects of heavy rare earth element (yttrium) on partial-nitritation process, bacterial activity and structure of responsible microbial communities.

  2019cited by this paper
• Nitrogen aeration alters the spatial distribution and metal adsorption of extracellular polymeric substances in waste-activated sludge

  2019influential reference
• Application of the kinetic and isotherm models for better understanding of the mechanism of biomineralization process induced by Purpureocillium lilacinum Y3.

  2019cited by this paper
• Comparison of extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) in nitrification and nitritation bioreactors

  2019cited by this paper
• Strengthened dewaterability of coke-oven plant oily sludge by altering extracellular organics using Fe(II)-activated persulfate oxidation.

  2019cited by this paper
• Enhancement mechanisms of copper(II) adsorption onto kaolinite by extracellular polymeric substances of Microcystis aeruginosa (cyanobacterium)

  2019cited by this paper
• The influence of Fe2+, Fe3+ and magnet powder (Fe3O4) on aerobic granulation and their mechanisms.

  2018cited by this paper
• Heavy Metal Stress and Its Consequences on Exopolysaccharide (EPS)-Producing Pantoea agglomerans

  2018cited by this paper
• High Correlation Between Structure Development and Chemical Variation During Biofilm Formation by Vibrio parahaemolyticus

  2018influential reference
• Direct solid‐state evidence of H2‐induced partial U(VI) reduction concomitant with adsorption by extracellular polymeric substances (EPS)

  2018cited by this paper
• Composition and functional group characterization of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) in activated sludge: the impacts of polymerization degree of proteinaceous substrates.

  2018cited by this paper
• Advanced biofilm staining techniques for TEM and SEM in geomicrobiology: Implications for visualizing EPS architecture, mineral nucleation, and microfossil generation

  2018influential reference
• Auto-aggregation properties of a novel aerobic denitrifier Enterobacter sp. strain FL

  2018cited by this paper
• Physicochemical characterisation of an α-glucan from Lactobacillus reuteri E81 as a potential exopolysaccharide suitable for food applications

  2018cited by this paper
• Characterization of extracellular polysaccharide/protein contents during the adsorption of Cd(II) by Synechocystis sp. PCC6803

  2018cited by this paper
• Biofilm activity, ammonia removal and cell growth of the heterotrophic nitrifier, Acinetobacter sp., facilitated by exogenous N-acyl-homoserine lactones

  2018cited by this paper
• Synergetic pretreatment of waste activated sludge by hydrodynamic cavitation combined with Fenton reaction for enhanced dewatering.

  2018cited by this paper
• Antagonistic effect of nano-ZnO and cetyltrimethyl ammonium chloride on the growth of Chlorella vulgaris: Dissolution and accumulation of nano-ZnO.

  2018cited by this paper
• The acid soluble extracellular polymeric substance of aerobic granular sludge dominated by Defluviicoccus sp.

  2017influential reference
• Critical review of EPS production, synthesis and composition for sludge flocculation.

  2017cited by this paper
• Mechanical and chemical studies on EPS from Sulfobacillus thermosulfidooxidans: from planktonic to biofilm cells.

  2017influential reference
• Bacterial and archaeal community distribution and stabilization of anaerobic sludge in a strengthen circulation anaerobic (SCA) reactor for municipal wastewater treatment.

  2017influential reference
• Interaction of Pb(II) and biofilm associated extracellular polymeric substances of a marine bacterium Pseudomonas pseudoalcaligenes NP103.

  2017cited by this paper
• Stratification of Extracellular Polymeric Substances (EPS) for Aggregated Anammox Microorganisms.

  2017influential reference
• Microstructure of anammox granules and mechanisms endowing their intensity revealed by microscopic inspection and rheometry.

  2017influential reference
• Distribution Characteristics of Extracellular Polymeric Substance Extracted from Dewatered Sludge Treated with Enzymes and Thermal Pressure

  2017cited by this paper
• Exploiting extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) controlling strategies for performance enhancement of biological wastewater treatments: An overview.

  2017cited by this paper
• Impact of sludge retention time on the fine composition of the microbial community and extracellular polymeric substances in a membrane bioreactor

  2016cited by this paper
• Sequestration of nanoparticles by an EPS matrix reduces the particle-specific bactericidal activity

  2016cited by this paper
• Investigation of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) properties of P. aeruginosa and B. subtilis and their role in bacterial adhesion.

  2016cited by this paper
• Effect of Extracellular Polymeric Substances on Surface Properties and Attachment Behavior of Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans

  2016influential reference
• Detection Techniques for Extracellular Polymeric Substances in Biofilms: A Review

  2016cited by this paper
• Enhancing the sludge dewaterability by electrolysis/electrocoagulation combined with zero-valent iron activated persulfate process

  2016influential reference
• Optimization of Extracellular Polymeric Substances production using Azotobacter beijreinckii and Bacillus subtilis and its application in chromium (VI) removal.

  2016cited by this paper
• Characterization, structure, and function of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) of microbial biofilm in biological wastewater treatment systems: a review

  2016cited by this paper
• Aerobic granulation of protein-rich granules from nitrogen-lean wastewaters.

  2016cited by this paper
• Composition analysis of fractions of extracellular polymeric substances from an activated sludge culture and identification of dominant forces affecting microbial aggregation

  2016cited by this paper
• Characterization and anti-biofilm activity of extracellular polymeric substances produced by the marine biofilm-forming bacterium Pseudoalteromonas ulvae strain TC14

  2016cited by this paper
• Hydrophilicity/hydrophobicity of anaerobic granular sludge surface and their causes: An in situ research.

  2016influential reference
• Spectroscopic characterization of extracellular polymeric substances from a mixed culture dominated by ammonia-oxidizing bacteria.

  2015cited by this paper
• Microbial dynamics and properties of aerobic granules developed in a laboratory-scale sequencing batch reactor with an intermediate filamentous bulking stage

  2015cited by this paper
• Adsorption of Pb(II), Cd(II) and Zn(II) by extracellular polymeric substances extracted from aerobic granular sludge: Efficiency of protein

  2015cited by this paper
• Role of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) production in bioaggregation: application to wastewater treatment

  2015cited by this paper
• Distribution of extracellular polymeric substances in anammox granules and their important roles during anammox granulation

  2015influential reference
• Physicochemical characterization of exopolysaccharides produced by Lactobacillus rhamnosus on various carbon sources.

  2015influential reference
• Protein and polysaccharide content of tightly and loosely bound extracellular polymeric substances and the development of a granular activated sludge floc.

  2015cited by this paper
• Role of extracellular polymeric substance in determining the high aggregation ability of anammox sludge.

  2015cited by this paper
• Microscopic and Spectroscopic Analyses of Chlorhexidine Tolerance in Delftia acidovorans Biofilms

  2014cited by this paper
• Real-time single-cell imaging of protein secretion

  2014cited by this paper
• Effects of acid/alkaline pretreatment and gamma-ray irradiation on extracellular polymeric substances from sewage sludge

  2014cited by this paper
• Elucidating the genetic basis for Escherichia coli defense against silver toxicity using mutant arrays

  2014cited by this paper
• Structure Analysis of Aerobic Granule from a Sequencing Batch Reactor for Organic Matter and Ammonia Nitrogen Removal

  2014cited by this paper
• Insight into the roles of microbial extracellular polymer substances in metal biosorption.

  2014cited by this paper
• Composition of EPS fractions from suspended sludge and biofilm and their roles in microbial cell aggregation.

  2014influential reference
• Comparison of SEM and VPSEM imaging techniques with respect to Streptococcus mutans biofilm topography.

  2014cited by this paper
• Biosorption of Al(+3) and Cd(+2) by an exopolysaccharide from Lactobacillus rhamnosus.

  2014cited by this paper
• Removal of Zn(II) from simulated wastewater using an algal biofilm.

  2014cited by this paper
• Removal and mechanism of Cu (II) and Cd (II) from aqueous single-metal solutions by a novel biosorbent from waste-activated sludge

  2014influential reference
• The structure and component characteristics of partial nitrification biofilms under autotrophic and heterotrophic conditions

  2014cited by this paper
• The effect of carbon source on extracellular polymeric substances production and its influence on sludge floc properties

  2014cited by this paper
• On the role of extracellular polymeric substances during early stages of Xylella fastidiosa biofilm formation.

  2013cited by this paper
• Silicon chips detect intracellular pressure changes in living cells.

  2013cited by this paper
• Characteristics of biofilm attaching to carriers in moving bed biofilm reactor used to treat vitamin C wastewater.

  2013cited by this paper
• Presynaptic structure of Aplysia single live neuron by atomic force and confocal laser scanning microscope.

  2013cited by this paper
• Characterization of exopolysaccharide produced by Lactobacillus kefiranofaciens ZW3 isolated from Tibet kefir – Part II

  2013cited by this paper
• STXM and NanoSIMS investigations on EPS fractions before and after adsorption to goethite.

  2013cited by this paper
• Isolation and identification of an exopolysaccharide-producing lactic acid bacterium strain from Chinese Paocai and biosorption of Pb(II) by its exopolysaccharide.

  2012cited by this paper
• Atomic force microscopy characterization of silver nanoparticles interactions with marine diatom cells and extracellular polymeric substance

  2012cited by this paper
• Combination of microscopic techniques reveals a comprehensive visual impression of biofilm structure and composition.

  2012cited by this paper
• Role and significance of extracellular polymeric substances on the property of aerobic granule.

  2012cited by this paper
• Response of anaerobic granular sludge to a shock load of zinc oxide nanoparticles during biological wastewater treatment.

  2012cited by this paper
• AFM imaging of extracellular polymer release by marine diatom Cylindrotheca closterium (Ehrenberg) Reiman & J.C. Lewin

  2011cited by this paper
• Structure of cake layer in a submerged anaerobic membrane bioreactor

  2011cited by this paper
• Variations of both bacterial community and extracellular polymers: the inducements of increase of cell hydrophobicity from biofloc to aerobic granule sludge.

  2011cited by this paper
• Effects of temperature and dissolved oxygen on sludge properties and their role in bioflocculation and settling.

  2011influential reference
• Characterisation of the mineral fraction in extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) from activated sludges extracted by eight different methods.

  2011cited by this paper
• Purification and conformational analysis of a key exopolysaccharide component of mixed culture aerobic sludge granules.

  2010cited by this paper
• AFM & EFM study on attachment of acidophilic leaching organisms

  2010cited by this paper
• Extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) of microbial aggregates in biological wastewater treatment systems: a review.

  2010cited by this paper
• Microscopical Observation of the Marine Bacterium Vibrio Natriegeus Growth on Metallic Corrosion

  2010influential reference
• Enhanced storage stability of aerobic granules seeded with pellets.

  2010cited by this paper
• Plasma-enhanced synthesis of bioactive polymeric coatings from monoterpene alcohols: a combined experimental and theoretical study.

  2010cited by this paper
• Visualization of adherent micro-organisms using different techniques.

  2010cited by this paper
• Characterization of the mineral fraction associated to extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) in anaerobic granular sludges.

  2010cited by this paper
• The biofilm matrix

  2010cited by this paper
• Contribution of extracellular polymeric substances on representative gram negative and gram positive bacterial deposition in porous media.

  2010cited by this paper

• Selective enrichment of comammox over NOB Nitrospira on biofilm in low-oxygen integrated fixed-film activated sludge system

  2025cites this paper
• Three-Dimensional Reconstruction-Characterization of Polymeric Membranes: A Review.

  2025cites this paper
• Amending coral soil using exopolysaccharide from salt-tolerant Bacillus velezensis TSD5 bacteria from an atoll in Vietnam

  2025cites this paper
• A critical review on the influences of extracellular polymeric substances on sludge dewatering in advanced oxidation processes

  2025cites this paper
• Analytical solution of freeze-thaw pretreatment combined with step vacuum preloading for sludge consolidation and dewatering

  2025cites this paper
• Mechanistic insights into melanoidins-induced hydrophilicity of thermal hydrolyzed sludge and its impact on dewaterability.

  2024cites this paper
• Interrelation between extracellular polymer substances (EPSs) and MPs in an MBR

  2024cites this paper
• Dissolved silica affects the bulk iron redox state and recrystallization of minerals generated by photoferrotrophy in a simulated Archean ocean

  2024cites this paper
• Harnessing the Potential of Extracellular Polymeric Substances in Enhancing ANAMMOX Processes: Mechanisms, Strategies, and Perspectives

  2024cites this paper
• Nature’s architects: a comprehensive review of extracellular polymeric substances and their diverse applications

  2024cites this paper
• Microbial deposition and growth on polyamide reverse osmosis membrane surfaces: Mechanisms, impacts, and potential cures

  2023cites this paper