Ferrous iron and sulfur oxidation and ferric iron reduction activities of Thiobacillus ferrooxidans are affected by growth on ferrous iron, sulfur, or a sulfide ore

Abstract

Eight strains of Thiobacillus ferrooxidans (laboratory strains Tf-1 [= ATCC 13661] and Tf-2 [= ATCC 19859] and mine isolates SM-1, SM-2, SM-3, SM-4, SM-5, and SM-8) and three strains of Thiobacillus thiooxidans (laboratory strain Tt [= ATCC 8085] and mine isolates SM-6 and SM-7) were grown on ferrous iron (Fe2+), elemental sulfur (S0), or sulfide ore (Fe, Cu, and Zn). The cells were studied for their aerobic Fe2+- and S0-oxidizing activities (O2 consumption) and anaerobic S0-oxidizing activity with ferric iron (Fe3+) (Fe2+ formation). Fe2+-grown T. ferrooxidans cells oxidized S0 aerobically at a rate of 2 to 4% of the Fe2+ oxidation rate. The rate of anaerobic S0 oxidation with Fe3+ was equal to the aerobic oxidation rate in SM-1, SM-3, SM-4, and SM-5, but was only one-half or less that in Tf-1, Tf-2, SM-2, and SM-8. Transition from growth on Fe2+ to that on S0 produced cells with relatively undiminished Fe2+ oxidation activities and increased S0 oxidation (both aerobic and anaerobic) activities in Tf-2, SM-4, and SM-5, whereas it produced cells with dramatically reduced Fe2+ oxidation and anaerobic S0 oxidation activities in Tf-1, SM-1, SM-2, SM-3, and SM-8. Growth on ore 1 of metal-leaching Fe2+-grown strains and on ore 2 of all Fe2+-grown strains resulted in very high yields of cells with high Fe2+ and S0 oxidation (both aerobic and anaerobic) activities with similar ratios of various activities. Sulfur-grown Tf-2, SM-1, SM-4, SM-6, SM-7, and SM-8 cultures leached metals from ore 3, and Tf-2 and SM-4 cells recovered showed activity ratios similar to those of other ore-grown cells. It is concluded that all the T. ferrooxidans strains studied have the ability to produce cells with Fe2+ and S0 oxidation and Fe3+ reduction activities, but their levels are influenced by growth substrates and strain differences.