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

496
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...
496
Microbes and Methanogenesis01:26

Microbes and Methanogenesis

30
Methanogenesis is a critical microbial process in anaerobic ecosystems responsible for the biological production of methane, a potent greenhouse gas and valuable biofuel. This metabolic pathway is primarily facilitated by methanogenic archaea, which thrive in anoxic environments such as wetlands, sediments, and animal gastrointestinal tracts. The absence of oxygen in these habitats prevents aerobic respiration, thereby favoring alternative biochemical pathways for organic matter degradation.In...
30
Microbes and the Sulfur Cycle01:29

Microbes and the Sulfur Cycle

45
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...
45
Preparation and Reactions of Sulfides02:26

Preparation and Reactions of Sulfides

6.0K
Sulfides are the sulfur analog of ethers, just as thiols are the sulfur analog of alcohol. Like ethers, sulfides also consist of two hydrocarbon groups bonded to the central sulfur atom. Depending upon the type of groups present, sulfides can be symmetrical or asymmetrical. Symmetrical sulfides can be prepared via an SN2 reaction between 2 equivalents of an alkyl halide and one equivalent of sodium sulfide.
6.0K
Electrophilic Aromatic Substitution: Sulfonation of Benzene01:22

Electrophilic Aromatic Substitution: Sulfonation of Benzene

9.2K
Sulfonation of benzene is a reaction wherein benzene is treated with fuming sulfuric acid at room temperature to produce benzenesulfonic acid. Fuming sulfuric acid is a mixture of sulfur trioxide and concentrated sulfuric acid.
9.2K
Preparation and Reactions of Thiols02:33

Preparation and Reactions of Thiols

7.9K
Thiols are prepared using the hydrosulfide anion as a nucleophile in a nucleophilic substitution reaction with alkyl halides. For instance, bromobutane reacts with sodium hydrosulfide to give butanethiol.
7.9K

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by
Same author

Mucin Type Drives Composition and Mucin Glycan Degradation of an In Vitro Synthetic Microbial Community.

Environmental microbiology·2026
Same author

Enhanced activity and tolerance of sulfide-oxidizing bacteria in a dual reactor haloalkaline biodesulfurization system.

Journal of applied microbiology·2026
Same author

The hidden potential of archaea in carbon and nitrogen cycling in agricultural soils: a review.

Frontiers in microbiology·2026
Same author

Carboxydotrophic Acetogenesis in Alkaline Conditions Results in Transient Formate Production by the Halo-Alkaliphilic Acetogen Haloacetibacter carboxydivorans Gen. Nov. sp. Nov.

Environmental microbiology reports·2026
Same author

Probiotic Engraftment of Akkermansia muciniphila in an In Vitro Synthetic Microbial Community.

Microbial ecology·2025
Same author

Electrochemical Upcycling of Shell Waste for Sustainable Nutrient Recovery from Wastewater.

Environmental science & technology·2025

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Apr 1, 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

10.2K

Thiosulphate conversion in a methane and acetate fed membrane bioreactor.

Diego A Suarez-Zuluaga1, Peer H A Timmers2, Caroline M Plugge2

  • 1Sub-Department of Environmental Technology, Wageningen University, Bornse Weilanden 9, 6700 AA, Wageningen, The Netherlands.

Environmental Science and Pollution Research International
|October 2, 2015
PubMed
Summary

Thiosulphate disproportionation, not methane oxidation, dominated microbial processes in a bioreactor. Green sulphur bacteria and Desulfocapsa were key players, producing elemental sulphur from thiosulphate.

Keywords:
Anaerobic oxidation of methaneDesulfocapsaGreen sulphur bacteriaPyrosequencingSulphur productionThiosulphate disproportionation

More Related Videos

Author Spotlight: Scaling Microalgal Biotechnology for Enhanced Biomethane Production
07:34

Author Spotlight: Scaling Microalgal Biotechnology for Enhanced Biomethane Production

Published on: March 22, 2024

3.6K
Utilization of Stop-flow Micro-tubing Reactors for the Development of Organic Transformations
13:09

Utilization of Stop-flow Micro-tubing Reactors for the Development of Organic Transformations

Published on: January 4, 2018

39.8K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Apr 1, 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

10.2K
Author Spotlight: Scaling Microalgal Biotechnology for Enhanced Biomethane Production
07:34

Author Spotlight: Scaling Microalgal Biotechnology for Enhanced Biomethane Production

Published on: March 22, 2024

3.6K
Utilization of Stop-flow Micro-tubing Reactors for the Development of Organic Transformations
13:09

Utilization of Stop-flow Micro-tubing Reactors for the Development of Organic Transformations

Published on: January 4, 2018

39.8K

Area of Science:

  • Environmental microbiology
  • Bioreactor technology
  • Sulphur cycling

Background:

  • Biological thiosulphate reduction is crucial for sulphur cycling.
  • Methane and acetate are potential electron donors for microbial thiosulphate reduction.
  • Thiosulphate disproportionation is a competing microbial reaction.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate methane and acetate as electron donors for biological thiosulphate reduction.
  • To compare thiosulphate reduction with thiosulphate disproportionation.
  • To assess microbial processes in a long-term membrane bioreactor.

Main Methods:

  • Operation of a 5-L laboratory membrane bioreactor for 454 days in semi-batch mode.
  • Pyrosequencing analysis for microbial community identification.
  • Monitoring of microbial processes under varying conditions.

Main Results:

  • Thiosulphate disproportionation was the dominant microbial process, overriding methane oxidation.
  • Phototrophic green sulphur bacteria (Chlorobiaceae) and Desulfocapsa were the most abundant microorganisms.
  • Green sulphur bacteria utilized light to oxidize hydrogen sulphide to elemental sulphur, even in low-light conditions.
  • Methane and acetate supply interruptions did not affect microbial processes.

Conclusions:

  • The bioreactor system favored thiosulphate disproportionation over methane-coupled thiosulphate reduction.
  • The study demonstrated microbial conversion of thiosulphate to elemental sulphur.
  • While not achieving the initial goal of methane-driven conversion, the process yields elemental sulphur directly from thiosulphate.