Early reprecipitation of sulfate salts in coal biodesulfurization processes using acidophilic chemolithotrophic bacteria.

This study evaluated the effect of three sulfate salt-based culture media on the reprecipitation of sulfur under the action of two types of bacterial inoculum, a pure strain of Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans (ATCC 23270) and a consortium of this strain and Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans (ATCC 15494), in a biodesulfurization process for coal (particle size < 0.25 mm) from the 'La Guacamaya' mine (Puerto Libertador, Córdoba, Colombia). All of the experiments were periodically monitored, with measurements taken of pH, cell concentration, iron concentration, and pyrite oxidation.

Active fluid with Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans: correlations between swimming and the oxidation route.

To explore engineering platforms towards 'active bacterial baths', we grow and characterize native and commercial strains of Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans to promote swimming locomotion. Three different energy sources were used, namely elemental sulfur, ferrous sulfate, and pyrite. The characteristics of the culture, such as pH, Eh, and the concentration of cells and ions, are monitored to seek correlations between the oxidation route and the transport mechanism.

Solubilization of phosphorus from phosphate rocks with Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans following a growing-then-recovery process.

Phosphorus is an essential nutrient for the synthesis of biomolecules and is particularly important in agriculture, as soils must be constantly supplemented with its inorganic form to ensure high yields and productivity. In this paper, we propose a process to solubilize phosphorus from phosphate rocks, where Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans cultures are pre-cultivated to foster the acidic conditions for bioleaching-two-step "growing-then-recovery"-. Our method solubilizes 100% of phosphorus, whereas the traditional process without pre-cultivation-single-step "growing-and-recovery"-results in a maximum of 56% solubilization.