Comparison of the characteristics of extracellular polymeric substances for two different extraction methods and sludge formation conditions

► The EPS using CER contain more aromatic condensed structures with less acidic functional groups. ► Hg(II) binding was measurable only for the EPS using formaldehyde/NaOH. ► The highest pyrene Koc value was obtained for the EPS of anaerobic sludge using CER. ► The extraction methods produced more differences in the EPS characteristics than the sludge formation conditions.