Kinetics and equilibrium adsorption of nano-TiO2 particles on synthetic biofilm

► Nano-TiO2 particles exhibit strong sorption to agarose superporous biofilm. ► pH and salinity changed hydroxylation of nano-TiO2 and influenced stability and sorption. ► Sorption limited by diffusion through the boundary layer or intrabiofilm mass transfer. ► pH dependent maximum uptake had first order kinetic and equilibrium adsorption isotherms. ► Binding nano-TiO2 to active biofilm sites and slow diffusion resulted in irreversible sorption.