Thiobacillus | bacteria genus | Britannica (original) (raw)

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autotrophic metabolism

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  In bacteria: Autotrophic metabolism
  Thiobacillus oxidizes thiosulfate and elemental sulfur to sulfate, and A. ferrooxidans oxidizes ferrous ions to the ferric form. This diverse oxidizing ability allows A. ferrooxidans to tolerate high concentrations of many different ions, including iron, copper, cobalt, nickel, and zinc. All of these types of…
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sulfur-based metabolism

• In sulfur bacterium
  Thiobacillus, widespread in marine and terrestrial habitats, oxidizes sulfur, producing sulfates useful to plants; in deep ground deposits it generates sulfuric acid, which dissolves metals in mines but also corrodes concrete and steel. Desulfovibrio desulficans reduces sulfates in waterlogged soils and sewage to hydrogen sulfide,…
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