Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
INTRODUCTION TO BIOFILM ENGINEERING, cilt.1323, ss.275-299, 2019 (SCI-Expanded)
An important feature of biofilms is the production of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) by various strains of microorganisms. These biopolymer compounds vary in structure and composition, depending on the microbial strain and a diverse range of environmental factors such as nutrient levels, moisture content, and stress conditions in a soil environment. Understanding the chemical, physical, and biological properties of EPS along with their interaction in the soil environment is a key to predicting their potential applications and maintaining the maximum benefit from their use. EPS have been reported for their impact in maintaining high moisture content, adhesion to soil particles and increasing soil aggregation, soil stability, binding heavy metals, and enhancing nutrient accumulation in soils for increased vegetative growth and agricultural yields. Although the unique characteristics of EPS and their potential for being used in a wide variety of application fields have been researched, there are only a few EPS that have been utilized with full industrial commercialization so far. Studies regarding their implementation in the field or in the natural in situ environment are also limited. This review chapter provides a discussion of the application of biopolymer compounds, particularly in the soil environment, pertaining to maintaining water retention, soil adhesion and soil aggregation, nutrient accumulation and vegetative growth for agricultural use, removal of heavy metals in soils, and enhancing soil stability and structure purposes, along with the constraints for their commercial applications in these areas. Perspectives for future directions to overcome these limitations and perspectives of future implementation are also discussed.