Growth the Wolinella succinogenes on H2S plus fumarate and on formate plus sulfur as energy sources

Wolinella succinogenes was found to grow on H₂S plus fumarate with the formation of elemental sulfur and succinate. The growth rate was 0.18 h^-1 (t_d=3.8 h) and the growth yield was estimated to be 6.0 g per mol fumarate used. Growth also occurred on formate plus elemental sulfur; the products formed were H₂S and CO₂. The growth rate and estimated growth yield were 0.58 h^-1 (t_d=1.2 h) and 3.5 g per mol formate used, respectively. These results suggest that certain chemotrophic anaerobes may be involved in both the formation and reduction of sulfur.