Dead Ensifer adhaerens cells remove PCB contaminants by biosorption alone.
Living Ensifer adhaerens cells remove PCB by biosorption and biodegradation.
Contributions of each removal strategy depend on incubation time and PCB congener.
Lipids, proteins, and polysaccharides are involved in biosorption.
Loosely bound polysaccharides and enzyme activities alter biodegradation capacity.