RELATION OF THE IRON OXIDIZER, THIOBACILLUS FERROOXIDANS , TO THIOSULFATE

Abstract

A restudy has been made of Thiobacillus ferrooxidans secured from the acid drainage of some northern West Virginia coal mines. Cultures isolated from ferrous iron agar and then subcultured for 85 consecutive transfers in thiosulfate broth during a period of 14 months were able to use ferrous iron as their energy source when returned to ferrous iron broth. Thiosulfate utilization was quantitatively followed by iodine titration and pH change; ferrous iron oxidation was quantitatively determined by use of 1,10-phenanthroline. Characteristic colonial forms were produced by T. ferrooxidans growing on thiosulfate agar irrespective of whether the inoculum was from iron broth or thiosulfate broth.