Adsorption of Microorganisms to Minerals

Adsorption of microorganisms (bacteria, fungi and microalgae, etc.) and biomacromolecules (humic substances, extracellular substances, proteins and nuclear acids, etc.) to minerals are universal in the nature environments. These processes also governed the inorganic and organic pollutants migration and conversion. This chapter discusses the interface reactions of microorganisms and minerals regarding the surface properties of both sides, leading to the microorganism’s survival and growing, minerals’ transformation and formation as well as polluted or harmful substances’ retention and removal. The content broads the knowledge of bacteria, fungi and algae and biomacromolecules adsorption onto natural minerals and highlights the application of microorganism-mineral interaction on environmental engineering such as heavy metals and polluted organic matters removal.