Influence of preservation substrate on iron oxidation ability of various Thiobacillus ferrooxidans isolates.
Iron oxidation abilities of 11 isolates were compared after their preservation on ferrous sulphate and polymetallic sulfide concentrate containing 2.5 g l-1 Cu and 45 g l-1 Zn respectively in the leached solution. The fastest growing cultures, Tf CD-2, grown on ferrous substrate showed the shortest iron oxidation period of 35 h as compared to 47 h by Tf LIG preserved on polymetallic concentrate for six months under ambient conditions, for > 95% iron oxidation. All the isolates except Tf LIG showed reduction in iron oxidation rate from 16.8 to 125.4 mg l-1 h-1 while Tf LIG showed an increase of 44.5 mg l-1 h-1 in iron oxidation rate when grown on polymetallic concentrate. Pattern of iron oxidation varied with each isolate when preserved on either of the substrates. Considering the pattern and overall iron oxidation rate, Tf CD-2 and Tf HW-1 could be the isolates of choice due to highest iron oxidation rate exponentially exhibited even after 75% of substrate was utilised.
Menon
A G
AG
Department of Microbiology, School of Sciences, Gujarat University, Ahmedabad, India.
Dave
S R
SR
D003300:Copper / Q000378:metabolism; D003470:Culture Media / Q000378:metabolism; D007501:Iron / Q000378:metabolism*; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D013855:Thiobacillus / Q000378:metabolism*; D013997:Time Factors; D015032:Zinc / Q000378:metabolism
D003470:Culture Media; D003300:Copper; D007501:Iron; D015032:Zinc