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Related Concept Videos

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...
Microbial Nutrition01:28

Microbial Nutrition

Organisms exhibit remarkable metabolic diversity, categorized based on how they acquire energy and carbon. These strategies enable survival in various ecological niches and are essential for maintaining energy flow and nutrient cycling within ecosystems.Energy and Carbon SourcesOrganisms are classified as phototrophs or chemotrophs based on energy acquisition. Phototrophs use light as their energy source, while chemotrophs rely on oxidizing chemical compounds. Further differentiation arises...
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...
Anoxygenic Photosynthesis01:30

Anoxygenic Photosynthesis

Anoxygenic photosynthesis is a phototrophic process that captures light energy to drive carbon fixation without producing molecular oxygen. Unlike oxygenic photosynthesis, which utilizes water as an electron donor and releases oxygen, anoxygenic phototrophs use alternative electron donors such as hydrogen sulfide (H₂S), elemental sulfur (S⁰), or thiosulfate (S₂O₃²⁻). This process is carried out by diverse groups of bacteria, including purple bacteria, green sulfur bacteria, heliobacteria, and...
Microbes and the Sulfur Cycle01:29

Microbes and the Sulfur Cycle

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Carbon-dioxide Fixation

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 9, 2026

Estimating Sediment Denitrification Rates Using Cores and N2O Microsensors
07:59

Estimating Sediment Denitrification Rates Using Cores and N2O Microsensors

Published on: December 6, 2018

[Study on sulfur-based autotrophic denitrification with different electron donors].

Ying Yuan1, Wei-li Zhou, Hui Wang

  • 1School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China. helloyy2006@126.com

Huan Jing Ke Xue= Huanjing Kexue
|August 7, 2013
PubMed
Summary

Thiosulfate is the most effective electron donor for sulfur-based autotrophic denitrification of low-nitrate water, achieving 99% nitrate removal. This method is efficient even at low temperatures and short hydraulic retention times (HRT).

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

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Self-standing Electrochemical Set-up to Enrich Anode-respiring Bacteria On-site
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Self-standing Electrochemical Set-up to Enrich Anode-respiring Bacteria On-site

Published on: July 24, 2018

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 9, 2026

Estimating Sediment Denitrification Rates Using Cores and N2O Microsensors
07:59

Estimating Sediment Denitrification Rates Using Cores and N2O Microsensors

Published on: December 6, 2018

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

Self-standing Electrochemical Set-up to Enrich Anode-respiring Bacteria On-site
05:29

Self-standing Electrochemical Set-up to Enrich Anode-respiring Bacteria On-site

Published on: July 24, 2018

Area of Science:

  • Environmental microbiology
  • Water treatment technologies
  • Biogeochemical cycles

Context:

  • Nitrate contamination in water poses significant environmental and health risks.
  • Low-concentration nitrate removal requires efficient and cost-effective treatment methods.
  • Sulfur-based autotrophic denitrification is a promising biological approach for nitrate remediation.

Purpose:

  • To compare the efficacy of different sulfur-based electron donors (elemental sulfur, sulfide, thiosulfate) for treating low-concentration nitrate-contaminated water.
  • To evaluate the performance of these systems under varying conditions, including temperature and hydraulic retention time (HRT).
  • To identify the dominant microbial communities associated with each denitrification system.

Summary:

  • Thiosulfate demonstrated superior performance in autotrophic denitrification, achieving 99% nitrate and 90% total nitrogen (TN) removal with minimal nitrite accumulation (0.080 mg/L) and a short HRT of 0.5 hours.
  • Elemental sulfur and sulfide systems showed lower removal efficiencies (81% nitrate, 79% TN for sulfur; 47% nitrate, 41% TN for sulfide) and were more sensitive to temperature and HRT.
  • Molecular analysis indicated distinct bacterial populations in each reactor, with Thiobacillus denitrificans abundant in the sulfur system, suggesting potential discovery of novel sulfur-denitrifying bacteria.

Impact:

  • Identifies thiosulfate as the optimal electron donor for efficient and robust sulfur-based autotrophic denitrification of low-nitrate water.
  • Provides insights into the operational parameters (temperature, HRT) influencing system performance.
  • Highlights potential microbial diversity and the possibility of novel bacterial species in sulfur-based denitrification systems, advancing bioremediation strategies.