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Revealing cellular (poly)sulphide storage in electrochemically active sulphide oxidising bacteria using rotating disc
Rikke Linssen1, Sanne de Smit1, Katharina Röhring Neé Neubert2
1Environmental Technology, Wageningen University, P.O. Box 17, Bornse Weilanden 9, 6708 WG, Building Axis z, building nr. 118, 6700 AA Wageningen, the Netherlands.
Bioelectrochemistry (Amsterdam, Netherlands)
|April 18, 2024
Summary
Sulphide oxidizing bacteria (SOB) shuttle sulphide for bioelectrochemical removal. This study investigated SOB redox behavior, hypothesizing they form and sorb polysulphides during anaerobic sulphide oxidation.
Area of Science:
- Environmental microbiology
- Electrochemistry
- Biotechnology
Background:
- Sulphide oxidizing bacteria (SOB) show potential for bioelectrochemical sulphide removal from waste streams.
- SOB can spatially separate sulphide oxidation and electron transfer to electrodes under anaerobic conditions, acting as sulphide shuttles.
- Mechanisms of anaerobic sulphide removal and charge storage by SOB, including sulphur formation sites, remain unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the redox behavior of sulphide shuttling SOB under haloalkaline conditions.
- To elucidate the mechanisms by which SOB anaerobically remove sulphide and store charge equivalents.
- To identify where sulphur is formed during this process.
Main Methods:
- Cyclic voltammetry was employed using a glassy carbon rotating disc electrode (RDE).
- Voltammograms of SOB were recorded in the absence and presence of sulphide.
- These were compared with voltammograms of abiotic sulphur species solutions.
Main Results:
- Polysulphide and sulphide exhibited distinct redox behaviors with different oxidation potentials (> -0.3 V for polysulphide, > -0.1 V for sulphide).
- Comparison of biotic and abiotic experiments suggested SOB form polysulphides during anaerobic sulphide removal.
- These polysulphides were hypothesized to remain sorbed to the bacterial cells.
Conclusions:
- This research advances the understanding of sulphide shuttling mechanisms in SOB.
- The findings suggest a role for cell-sorbed polysulphides in anaerobic sulphide removal by SOB.
- Further investigation into these mechanisms is warranted for optimizing bioelectrochemical applications.
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