Multidimensional Correlation Analysis between Charcoal Structure and Microbial Colonization toward Functional Biochar Design

Biochar, produced through the thermal conversion of unused biomass, is increasingly recognized as a key technology for achieving carbon neutrality and advancing the circular economy by stabilizing carbon in solid form. Beyond carbon sequestration, recent research has emphasized its potential as a functional material that supports microbial communities. However, the multifactorial structural determinants of microbial colonization remain poorly understood, primarily due to the multidimensional nature of biochar structures, limiting the rational design of functional biochar. In this study, we conducted a comprehensive analysis of diverse charcoal materials to systematically clarify multidimensional relationships between structural features and microbial colonization patterns. Physical and chemical descriptors spanning pore structure, elemental composition, and surface functional groups were obtained from multiple analytical techniques and organized through category-wise dimensionality reduction, while microbial colonization patterns were classified through community-based clustering analysis. The integrated analysis revealed that microbial colonization patterns could be distinguished only by specific combinations of structural features, rather than by individual descriptors alone. In particular, the enrichment of the beneficial microorganism Candidatus Accumulibacter was associated with combined effects of surface chemical characteristics, bulk composition, and pore-related features, rather than with total phosphorus content alone. These results demonstrate that microbial colonization on charcoal materials is governed by multifactorial structural conditions acting in concert. By establishing a data-driven framework that links multidimensional structural information with microbial responses, this study provides practical guidance for future database construction and AI-assisted functional biochar design, supporting the high-value utilization of biomass resources and sustainable environmental technologies. • Multidimensional charcoal structures governed microbial colonization patterns. • Colonization was distinguished only by combinations of physicochemical features. • Preferential colonization of beneficial microbes required combined structures. • A data-driven framework guiding functional biochar design was demonstrated.