Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Sulfur Assimilation01:20

Sulfur Assimilation

Sulfur is an essential element in biological systems, contributing to synthesizing key biomolecules, including amino acids such as cysteine and methionine, and cofactors such as coenzyme A and biotin. Microorganisms primarily assimilate sulfur as sulfate (SO₄²⁻) from the environment, which must undergo a series of biochemical transformations before it can be incorporated into cellular components. As sulfate is highly oxidized, it must undergo assimilatory sulfate reduction to become...
Microbes and the Sulfur Cycle01:29

Microbes and the Sulfur Cycle

Sulfur is a vital element in Earth's biogeochemical systems. It transitions through various inorganic states, including sulfate (SO₄²⁻), elemental sulfur (S⁰), and sulfide (S²⁻). Abiotic and biological mechanisms across oxic and anoxic environments intricately mediate these transformations. Sulfate, the most oxidized form of sulfur, is predominantly stored in rocks, marine sediments, and oceanic waters, acting as a long-term reservoir in the global sulfur cycle.In oxic environments,...
Microbial Wastewater Treatment01:30

Microbial Wastewater Treatment

Microbial communities in aquatic ecosystems play a key role in the natural breakdown of contaminants introduced through domestic and industrial effluents. Acting as biological catalysts, these microbes change and mineralize a wide range of organic and inorganic pollutants under different redox conditions.In oxygen-rich surface waters, aerobic heterotrophs lead organic matter breakdown, using oxygen as the terminal electron acceptor to efficiently oxidize substrates to carbon dioxide and water.
Acid Mine Drainage01:19

Acid Mine Drainage

Mining activities that disturb sulfide-rich rocks, particularly those containing pyrite (FeS₂), initiate a cascade of geochemical and microbiological processes with serious environmental implications. When exposed to air and water, pyrite undergoes oxidation, releasing sulfate, ultimately forming sulfuric acid and mobilizing heavy metals into surrounding water systems. This phenomenon, known as acid mine drainage (AMD), results in low pH waters laden with toxic elements that threaten aquatic...
Metabolism of Chemolithotrophs01:15

Metabolism of Chemolithotrophs

Chemolithotrophs are microorganisms that obtain energy by oxidizing inorganic molecules such as hydrogen gas (H₂), ammonia (NH₃), reduced sulfur compounds (H₂S, S²⁻), and ferrous iron (Fe²⁺). Unlike heterotrophic organisms that rely on organic carbon, chemolithotrophs transfer electrons from these inorganic donors to the electron transport chain (ETC), generating a proton motive force (PMF) that drives ATP synthesis through oxidative phosphorylation. However, because inorganic electron donors...
Carbon-dioxide Fixation01:28

Carbon-dioxide Fixation

Carbon dioxide fixation in prokaryotes enables the assimilation of inorganic carbon into organic molecules, supporting biosynthetic pathways, sustaining ecosystems, and contributing to the global carbon cycle. It also has industrial applications in carbon capture and bioproduct synthesis. Autotrophic organisms rely on this process to utilize CO₂ as a carbon source in diverse environments.The Calvin CycleThe Calvin cycle is the most widespread carbon fixation mechanism, primarily used by...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Integrated biological and UV-Fenton processes for the treatment of automobile service station wastewater.

Water science and technology : a journal of the International Association on Water Pollution Research·2025
Same author

Modelling and simulation of food waste bio-drying.

Chemosphere·2022
Same author

An experimental simulation study of conventional waste burning practices in India for the assessment and inventorisation of PCDD/F/dl-PCB emissions.

Journal of environmental management·2021
Same author

Development of mathematical model and experimental Validation for batch bio-drying of municipal solid waste: Mass balances.

Chemosphere·2021
Same author

Biodrying process: A sustainable technology for treatment of municipal solid waste with high moisture content.

Waste management (New York, N.Y.)·2016
Same author

Buoyant Filter Bio-Reactor (BFBR)--a novel anaerobic wastewater treatment unit.

Water science and technology : a journal of the International Association on Water Pollution Research·2008

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 5, 2026

Development of Sulfidogenic Sludge from Marine Sediments and Trichloroethylene Reduction in an Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket Reactor
15:19

Development of Sulfidogenic Sludge from Marine Sediments and Trichloroethylene Reduction in an Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket Reactor

Published on: October 15, 2015

Activity test for biological sulfate reduction.

Renu Pawels1, Ajit Haridas, Babu T Jose

  • 1School of Engineering, Cochin University of Science and Technology (CUSAT), Kochi 682 022, Kerala, India. linkrenu@satyam.net.in

Journal of Environmental Science & Engineering
|May 14, 2008
PubMed
Summary

This study details a simple setup for measuring sulfate-reducing bacteria activity in biofilm reactors. Polystyrene beads effectively facilitated sulfate reduction, with zinc showing no impact at tested concentrations.

More Related Videos

Measurement of the Potential Rates of Dissimilatory Nitrate Reduction to Ammonium Based on 14NH4+/15NH4+ Analyses via Sequential Conversion to N2O
08:05

Measurement of the Potential Rates of Dissimilatory Nitrate Reduction to Ammonium Based on 14NH4+/15NH4+ Analyses via Sequential Conversion to N2O

Published on: October 7, 2020

Experimental Column Setup for Studying Anaerobic Biogeochemical Interactions Between Iron (Oxy)Hydroxides, Trace Elements, and Bacteria
06:52

Experimental Column Setup for Studying Anaerobic Biogeochemical Interactions Between Iron (Oxy)Hydroxides, Trace Elements, and Bacteria

Published on: December 19, 2017

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jul 5, 2026

Development of Sulfidogenic Sludge from Marine Sediments and Trichloroethylene Reduction in an Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket Reactor
15:19

Development of Sulfidogenic Sludge from Marine Sediments and Trichloroethylene Reduction in an Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket Reactor

Published on: October 15, 2015

Measurement of the Potential Rates of Dissimilatory Nitrate Reduction to Ammonium Based on 14NH4+/15NH4+ Analyses via Sequential Conversion to N2O
08:05

Measurement of the Potential Rates of Dissimilatory Nitrate Reduction to Ammonium Based on 14NH4+/15NH4+ Analyses via Sequential Conversion to N2O

Published on: October 7, 2020

Experimental Column Setup for Studying Anaerobic Biogeochemical Interactions Between Iron (Oxy)Hydroxides, Trace Elements, and Bacteria
06:52

Experimental Column Setup for Studying Anaerobic Biogeochemical Interactions Between Iron (Oxy)Hydroxides, Trace Elements, and Bacteria

Published on: December 19, 2017

Area of Science:

  • Environmental microbiology
  • Wastewater treatment technologies
  • Bioreactor design

Background:

  • Biofilm reactors with turbulent agitation are effective for sulfate reduction in metal sulfate wastewater treatment.
  • Hydrogen is a common electron donor for sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB).

Purpose of the Study:

  • To describe a simple activity setup for determining the sulphidogenic activity of biofilms on polystyrene beads.
  • To evaluate the efficiency of SRB biofilms on different bead sizes for sulfate reduction.
  • To assess the impact of zinc on SRB activity.

Main Methods:

  • Development of a simple activity setup with self-aspiration of gas into liquid.
  • Utilizing polystyrene beads (1-2 mm and 2 mm) for biofilm attachment.
  • Measuring sulfate (SO4(2-)) reduction rates per gram of dry beads per day.

Main Results:

  • Sulfate reducing bacteria attached to 1-2 mm beads achieved 0.058 g SO4(2-) reduction per g of dry beads per day.
  • Sulfate reducing bacteria attached to 2 mm beads achieved 0.33 g SO4(2-) reduction per g of dry beads per day.
  • Zinc did not impact SRB activity at a concentration of 680 mg/L.

Conclusions:

  • The described setup is effective for assessing SRB activity in biofilms.
  • Larger beads (2 mm) show higher efficiency in sulfate reduction compared to smaller beads (1-2 mm).
  • Zinc presence does not inhibit SRB activity at the tested concentration, suggesting its potential co-treatment in metal sulfate wastewater.