OXIDATION OF HYDROGEN-SULFIDE BY THIOBACILLI

It has been previously demonstrated that the chemoautotroph and facultative anaerobe, Thiobacillus denitrificans, may be cultured aerobically or anaerobically in batch and continuous reactors on H2S(g) under sulfide‐limiting conditions. A process has been proposed for the removal of H2S from gases based on oxidation of H2S by T. denitrificans. Described here is a study of H2S oxidation by other Thiobacilli, the purpose of which has been to determine whether other Thiobacilli offer any advantages over T. denitrificans in the aerobic oxidation of H2S. Although four other species of Thiobacillus were found to grow on H2S as an energy source, none offer a clear advantage over T. denitrificans. Copyright © 1990 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.