Advances in modification strategies for polymer-based biocarriers in biofilm wastewater treatment

Biofilm technology is an effective biological wastewater treatment method that has attracted significant attention. As the core component of this technology, biocarriers play a vital role in microorganism attachment and biofilm formation. Polymer materials have long been favored as biocarrier materials due to their excellent properties. However, characteristics such as surface smoothness, hydrophilicity, and electronegativity can hinder microbial colonization and cause biofilms to detach easily. Therefore, developing new modified materials is a key strategy for improving the performance of traditional polymer-based biocarriers. This paper systematically reviews the research progress on modification strategies for polymer-based biocarrier materials, focusing on bulk modification (including filling, blending, and crosslinking), surface modification (such as grafting, etching, coating, and impregnation), and composite modification. Additionally, future research directions in this field are discussed. The goal is to advance the development of high-performance biocarrier materials.