Evidence of the activity of dissimilatory sulfate-reducing prokaryotes in nonsulfidogenic tropical mobile muds

In spite of the nonsulfidic conditions and abundant reactive iron(III) commonly found in mobile tropical deltaic muds, genes encoding dissimilatory sulfite reductase (dsr) were successfully amplified from the upper approximately 1 m of coastal deposits sampled along French Guiana and in the Gulf of Papua. The dsr sequences retrieved were highly diverse, were generally represented in both study regions and fell into six large phylogenetic groupings: Deltaproteobacteria, Thermodesulfovibrio groups, Firmicutes and three groups without known cultured representatives. The spatial and temporal distribution of dsr sequences strongly supports the contention that the sulfate-reducing prokaryote communities in mobile mud environments are cosmopolitan and stable over a period of years. The decrease in the (35)SO(4) (2-) tracer demonstrates that, despite abundant reactive sedimentary iron(III) ( approximately 350-400 mumol g(-1)), the sulfate-reducing prokaryotes present are active, with the highest levels of sulfide being generated in the upper zones of the cores (0-30 cm). Both the time course of the (35)S-sulfide tracer activity and the lack of reduced sulfur in sediments demonstrate virtually complete anaerobic loss of solid phase sulfides. We propose a pathway of organic matter oxidation involving at least 5-25% of the remineralized carbon, wherein sulfide produced by sulfate-reducing prokaryotes is cyclically oxidized biotically or abiotically by metal oxides.     

Upgrading the efficiency of dissimilatory sulfate reduction by Desulfovibrio desulfuricans via adjustment of the COD/SO4 ratio

The potential for upgrading the microbiological reduction of sulfates and for decreasing the organic pollution levels in industrial waste-water by the adjustment of the COD/SO4 ratio was investigated. The experiments involved waste-water samples coming from industrial pig farming, baker's yeast production and organic dye manufacture. The results show that in the presence of Desulfovibrio desulfuricans both the objectives can be achieved by abating the disproportion between the content of sulfates and that of organic substances.     

Biogeochemical Importance of the Bacterial Community in Uranium Waste Deposited at Key Lake,Northern Saskatchewan

The long-term stability of immobilized elements of concern in uranium tailings deposited in the Deilmann Tailings Management Facility (DTMF), northern Saskatchewan, is dependent upon maintenance of highly oxic conditions within the tailings mass. The main objective of this study was to investigate the effect of stimulating microbial activity on the redox potential and state of ferrihydrite, which are considered to be the primary controlling condition and mineral phase, respectively, within the tailings. To determine the potential for biologically mediated decreases in redox potential and ferrihydrite reduction, a series of microcosm assays were performed. Non-sterile material from the tailings–water interface of the DTMF site was inoculated with indigenous flora previously isolated from the tailings material and enriched with a carbon source (50 ppm trypticase soy broth) and incubated under continuous-flow or intermittent-flow conditions, and compared with an uninoculated, no-carbon control that received continuous flow. Highly reducing conditions with redox potentials of less than ?300 mV were detected after 2 days of incubation within the carbon-enriched tailings of microcosms receiving continuous flow, and less than ?280 mV after 11 days of incubation within carbon-enriched tailings in microcosms receiving intermittent flow. The lowest recorded Eh value (?545 mV) was recorded after 14 days in a carbon-enriched microcosm receiving intermittent flow. In contrast, the redox conditions in the control microcosm never dropped below ?93 mV; thus, it was clear that microbial activity and available carbon drove the Eh conditions to become highly reducing. The occurrence of low redox conditions was concomitant with the bulk chemical detection of Fe (II) in the effluent of treated microcosms. Sites of microbial ferrihydrite reduction were also detected using scanning transmission X-ray microscopy where Fe (II) species were observed in close proximity with bacterial cells. Analysis of the microbial diversity present within the microcosms confirmed that microbes indigenous to the DTMF system have the potential to generate conditions suitable for the proliferation of sulfate and iron reducing bacteria, such as Desulfosporosinus, which was detected by high-throughput 16S rRNA gene sequencing.     

Fe(III) Oxide Reduction by a Gram-positive Thermophile: Physiological Mechanisms for Dissimilatory Reduction of Poorly Crystalline Fe(III) Oxide by a Thermophilic Gram-positive Bacterium Carboxydothermus ferrireducens

Physiological strategies driving the reduction of poorly crystalline Fe(III) oxide by the thermophilic Gram-positive dissimilatory Fe(III)-reducing bacterium C. ferrireducens were evaluated. Direct cell-to-mineral contact appears to be the major physiological strategy for ferrihydrite reduction. This strategy is promoted by cell surface-associated c-type cytochromes, and the extracellular electron transfer to ferrihydrite is linked to energy generation via a membrane-bound electron transport chain. The involvement of pili-like appendages in ferrihydrite reduction has been detected for the first time in a thermophilic microorganism. A supplementary strategy for the utilization of a siderophore (DFO) in dissimilatory ferrihydrite reduction has also been characterized.     

用硫酸盐还原菌处理重金属废水的研究

介绍了用硫酸盐还原菌处理重金属废水的几种主要方法和原理。硫酸盐还原菌处理含重金属废水主要是通过将可溶性的重金属离子转化成不溶性的金属硫化物、氢氧化物、碳酸盐的方式 ,或直接通过以菌体对重金属离子的吸附完成的。目前研究用硫酸盐还原菌处理重金属废水的主要方法有分批沉淀工艺、吸附处理工艺、化学法和硫酸盐还原菌的混合工艺、全混合处理工艺及硫酸盐还原菌的厌氧上流式污泥床和流化床工艺 ,并对其主要的工艺指标进行了比较。     

Electron donors for biological sulfate reduction

Biological sulfate reduction is widely used for treating sulfate-containing wastewaters from industries such as mining, tannery, pulp and paper, and textiles. In biological reduction, sulfate is converted to hydrogen sulfide as the end product. The process is, therefore, ideally suited for treating metal-containing wastewater from which heavy metals are simultaneously removed through the formation of metal sulfides. Metal sulfide precipitates are more stable than metal hydroxides that are sensitive to pH change. Theoretically, conversion of 1 mol of sulfate requires 0.67 mol of chemical oxygen demand or electron donors. Sulfate rich wastewaters are usually deficient in electron donors and require external addition of electron donors in order to achieve complete sulfate reduction. This paper reviews various electron donors employed in biological sulfate reduction. Widely used electron donors include hydrogen, methanol, ethanol, acetate, lactate, propionate, butyrate, sugar, and molasses. The selection criteria for suitable electron donors are discussed.     

利用异化金属还原菌构建含糖微生物燃料电池

环境中的一些微生物通过还原金属氧化物进行无氧呼吸,而石墨电极与金属氧化物相似,也可以作为这类微生物呼吸作用的最终电子受体,利用这类微生物构建微生物燃料电池,以糖类物质为燃料,对电池产电情况、产电原理进行研究。实验结果表明,以Rhodoferaxferrireducens为产电微生物,在外接电阻510Ω条件下,以葡萄糖为燃料,常温下产生的电流密度达158mAm2(平台电压为0.46V,电极有效接触表面积为57cm2),且循环性能良好。更换燃料为其它糖,发现微生物可以利用多种糖进行产电;通过SEM观察发现大量微生物吸附在石墨电极上,用Bradford法对运行20d后电池的细胞量进行定量,测得悬浮细胞蛋白浓度为140mgL,吸附在电极上的生物量为1180mgm2。通过数据采集分析和细菌还原实验,发现吸附在电极上的微生物对电压的产生贡献最大,具有电化学和生物学活性;悬浮细胞对产电贡献很小,不具有电化学和生物学活性。     

Sedimentary anaerobic microbial biogeochemistry in the Gulf of Trieste, northern Adriatic Sea: Influences of bottom water oxygen depletion

Sediment samples from two locationsin the Gulf of Trieste (northern Adriatic Sea) werecollected during periods of maximum and minimumtemperatures for two years. Both sites were rich incarbonate material and inhabited by a diverse benthicinfaunal community. However, Site F exhibited adeeper dwelling faunal community, higher content ofcarbonate minerals, and larger grained sediments thanat site MA, which was closer to shore. Depth profilesof sulfate reduction and potential rates of iron andmanganese reduction were determined together withmeasurements of pore water and solid phase chemistry. Bottom waters at all sites were nearly saturated withoxygen for all of the dates sampled except forSeptember 1993 when bottom waters at site F were lessthan 50% saturated. Sulfate reduction rates were ashigh as 400 nmol ml^-1 day^-1 during latesummer and fall when temperatures were >20 °C,while rates during March (8 °C) were <30 nmolml^-1 day^-1. Potential rates of ironreduction, as determined by the accumulation of bothdissolved and acid-soluble reduced iron, were high insurficial sediments at each site except at site F whenbottom waters were partially depleted in oxygen. In the latter instance, sulfate reduction overwhelmedmetal reduction. Although the portion of metalreduction due directly to enzymatic use by bacteriawas not determined, the potential rate data suggestedthat Fe and perhaps Mn reduction were significantcomponents of anaerobic carbon degradation in thesesediments during much of the year. Both sitesappeared to support active metal-reducing bacterialcommunities. However, occasional depletion of oxygenin bottom waters appeared to cause a decrease inirrigation/reworking activity by infauna whichdepressed redox cycling of elements enhancing theimportance of sulfate reduction. A shift from metalreduction to sulfate reduction potentially exacerbatestoxic effects of oxygen depletion on fauna byincreasing the accumulation of toxic sulfide.     

Influence of cathodic protection of mild steel on the growth of sulphate‐reducing bacteria at 35°C in marine sediments

In order to protect metallic structures from marine corrosion, cathodic protection using sacrificial anodes or impressed current is widely used. In aerated seawater steel is considered to be protected when a cathodic potential of — 800 mV/SCE (Saturated Calomel Electrode) is applied. However, in many cases, this potential must be lowered due to the presence and activity of microorganisms such as acid‐producing bacteria or sulphate‐reducing bacteria (SRB). SRB are obligate anaerobes using sulphate as an electron acceptor with resultant production of sulfides. Some SRB are able to use hydrogen as an electron donor causing thereby depolarization of steel surfaces.

An experiment was performed in marine sediments to determine the relationship between cathodically produced hydrogen and growth of SRB in marine sediments both at ambiant temperature (Therene, 1988) and at 35°C. Results concerning the latter experiments are reported here.

Analytical techniques included microbiological analyses, lipid biomarker studies and electrochemical measurements including AC impedance spectroscopy. Results indicated a change in the bacterial community structure both on the steel and sediment as a function of time and potential. The results also showed that cathodically‐produced hydrogen promoted the growth of SRB with the Desulfovibrio genus predominating.     

Kinetics of SO4−2 reduction under different growth media by sulfate reducing bacteria

Sulfate Reducing Bacteria (SRB) were used to reduce the SO₄^–2 concentration in waste water. The growth pattern of SRB was found by varying the concentration of nutrients and the biomass. The specific reaction constant was evaluated in each case.