Anaerobic, Nitrate-Dependent Oxidation of Pyrite Nanoparticles by Thiobacillus denitrificans

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• 作者：Julian Bosch ; Keun-Young Lee ; Guntram Jordan ; Kyoung-Woong Kim ; Rainer U. Meckenstock
• 刊名：Environmental Science & Technology (ES&T)
• 出版年：2012
• 出版时间：February 21, 2012
• 年：2012
• 卷：46
• 期：4
• 页码：2095-2101
• 全文大小：300K
• 年卷期：v.46,no.4(February 21, 2012)
• ISSN：1520-5851

文摘

Pyrite is a key mineral in the global biogeochemical cycles of sulfur and iron, yet its anaerobic microbial oxidation has eluded geochemists and microbiologists for decades. Recent reports indicated that anaerobic oxidation of pyrite is occurring, but the mechanism remains unclear. Here, we provide evidence for the capability of Thiobacillus denitrificans to anaerobically oxidize a putatively nanosized pyrite particle fraction with nitrate as electron acceptor. Nanosized pyrite was readily oxidized to ferric iron and sulfate with a rate of 10.1 渭M hup>鈥?up>. The mass balance of pyrite oxidation and nitrate reduction revealed a closed recovery of the electrons. This substantiates a further 鈥渕issing lithotrophy鈥?in the global cycles of sulfur and iron and emphasizes the high reactivity of nanominerals in the environment.