title: Differential utilization and transformation of sulfur allotropes, μ-S and α-S8, by moderate thermoacidophile Sulfobacillus thermosulfidooxidans.
abstract: The utilization of amorphous μ-S and orthorhombic α-S8 by thermoacidophile Sulfobacillus thermosulfidooxidans was firstly investigated in terms of cell growth and sulfur oxidation behavior. The morphology and surface sulfur speciation transformation were evaluated by using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), Raman spectroscopy and sulfur K-edge X-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) spectroscopy. The results showed that the strain grown on μ-S entered slower (about 1 day later) into the exponential phase, while grew faster in exponential phase and attained higher maximal cell density and lower pH than on α-S8. After bio-corrosion, both sulfur samples were evidently eroded, but only μ-S surface presented much porosity, while α-S8 maintained glabrous. μ-S began to be gradually converted into α-S8 from day 2 when the bacterial cells entered the exponential phase, with a final composition of 62.3% μ-S and 37.7% α-S8 on day 4 at the stationary phase. α-S8 was not found to transform into other species in the experiments with or without bacteria. These data indicated S. thermosulfidooxidans oxidized amorphous μ-S faster than orthorhombic α-S8, but the chain-like μ-S was transformed into cyclic α-S8 by S. thermosulfidooxidans.
authors.affiliation: School of Minerals Processing and Bioengineering, Central South University, Changsha 410083, China; Key Lab of Biometallurgy of Ministry of Education of China, Central South University, Changsha 410083, China.
authors.forename: Zhen-yuan
authors.initials: ZY
authors.lastname: Nie
authors.affiliation: School of Minerals Processing and Bioengineering, Central South University, Changsha 410083, China; Key Lab of Biometallurgy of Ministry of Education of China, Central South University, Changsha 410083, China.
authors.forename: Hong-chang
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: School of Minerals Processing and Bioengineering, Central South University, Changsha 410083, China; Key Lab of Biometallurgy of Ministry of Education of China, Central South University, Changsha 410083, China. Electronic address: jlxia@csu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Jin-lan
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Xia
authors.affiliation: School of Minerals Processing and Bioengineering, Central South University, Changsha 410083, China; Key Lab of Biometallurgy of Ministry of Education of China, Central South University, Changsha 410083, China.
authors.forename: Hong-rui
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: Beijing Synchrotron Radiation Facility, Institute of High Energy Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China.
authors.forename: Chen-yan
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.affiliation: Beijing Synchrotron Radiation Facility, Institute of High Energy Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China.
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.affiliation: Beijing Synchrotron Radiation Facility, Institute of High Energy Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China.
authors.forename: Yi-dong
authors.initials: YD
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: School of Minerals Processing and Bioengineering, Central South University, Changsha 410083, China; Key Lab of Biometallurgy of Ministry of Education of China, Central South University, Changsha 410083, China.
authors.forename: Guan-zhou
authors.initials: GZ
authors.lastname: Qiu
mesh_terms: D006094:Gram-Positive Bacteria / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism*; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D017550:Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared; D013059:Spectrum Analysis, Raman; D013455:Sulfur / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism*; D056928:X-Ray Absorption Spectroscopy; D014961:X-Ray Diffraction
chemical_list: D013455:Sulfur
keywords: Sulfobacillus thermosulfidooxidans; Sulfur speciation transformation; Sulfur utilization; α-S(8); μ-S