Metabolic Capabilities of Sulfur Oxidizing Bacteria and Their Role in Water Pollution.

摘要

Investigations are described into the physiology of microorganisms that are commonly involved in the oxidation of inorganic sulfur compounds. The metabolic activities of these bacteria play a potent role in several fields of economic importance such as strip mining operations,water pollution,corrosion,metallurgy,petroleum technology and soil fertility processes. The oxidation of inorganic sulfur compounds was studied in the chemolithotrophs Thiobacillus denitrificans,Thiobacillus A2,Thiobacillus neapolitanus,and a photolithotroph Rhodopseudonomas palustris. Cell suspensions from all of the thiobacilli catalyzed completely the oxidation of sulfide,thiosulfate,and sulfite to sulfate. The oxidation of thiosulfate in R. palustris was light-dependent and involved tetrathionate and trithionate as the major intermediates in the formation of sulfates.