SULFATE REDUCTION BY BACTERIA
A comprehensive survey of literature dealing with sulfate-reducing bacteria was made. Data were collected on metabolism, ecology, isolation, and cultivation of these bacteria. It was found that quantitative data on the bacterial reduction of sulfate are almost nonexistent. Desulfovibrio aestaurii, a species of sulfate-reducing bacteria, was isolated from a mud sample obtained from a saltern. Isolation was complicated by and unknown straight rod bacteria, but was eventually achieved through the dilution method andd through the diffusion method. The isolated bacteria were grown in batch experiments to measure bacterial counts and sulfide concentrations. From the experimental data the sulfate reduction rates in complex and simple lactate media were calculated. Correlations were set up expressing reduction rate in terms of growth rate and bacterial density. Reduction rates in a continuous cultivator were estimated. With another set of experiments the effects of initial sulfate content on the sulfate reduction rate, and on percentage conversion were studied. Also investigated was the effect of NaCl concentration on the reduction rate. A gradual adaptation of bacteria to higher salinities was carried out to reduce their NaCl sensitivity. (auth)
- Research Organization:
- California, Univ., Berkeley. Lawrence Radiation Lab.
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-48
- NSA Number:
- NSA-18-004962
- OSTI ID:
- 4122755
- Report Number(s):
- UCRL-10966
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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