Kinetic studies on elemental sulfur oxidation by Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans: sulfur limitation and activity of free and adsorbed bacteria
- Resource Type
- Authors
- Šárka Helánová; Jitka Kašparovská; Martin Mandl; Pavla Češková
- Source
- Biotechnology and bioengineering. 78(1)
- Subject
- inorganic chemicals
Kinetics
ved/biology.organism_classification_rank.species
Inorganic chemistry
Sulfur metabolism
chemistry.chemical_element
Bioengineering
Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology
Models, Biological
Sensitivity and Specificity
Thiobacillus
03 medical and health sciences
Adsorption
Phase (matter)
Electrochemistry
Electrodes
030304 developmental biology
0303 health sciences
biology
030306 microbiology
ved/biology
Sulfates
Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
biology.organism_classification
Sulfur
chemistry
Models, Chemical
13. Climate action
Yield (chemistry)
Oxidation-Reduction
Bacteria
Biotechnology
- Language
- ISSN
- 0006-3592
The kinetics of sulfur oxidation by Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans in shaking flasks and a 10-L reactor was studied. The observed linearity of growth and sulfur oxidation was explained by sulfur limitation. Total cell yield was not significantly different for exponential growth as compared to growth during the sulfur-limiting phase. Kinetic studies of sulfur oxidation by growing and nongrowing bacteria indicated that both free and adsorbed bacteria oxidize sulfur. Changes in the number of free bacteria rather than cells adsorbed on sulfur were better predictors of the kinetics of sulfur oxidation, indicating that the free bacteria were performing sulfur oxidation. The active growth phase always followed adsorption of bacteria on sulfur; however, the special metabolic role of adsorbed bacteria was unclear. Their activity in sulfur solubilization was considered.