Abstract
During iron oxidation,Thiobacillus ferrooxidans (Ferrobacillus ferrooxidans) was able to tolerate high concentrations of Zn, Ni, Cu, Co, Mn and Al (more than 10 g/litre). Silver and anions of tellurium, arsenic and selenium were toxic in concentrations of 50–100 mg/litre. Molybdenum (as molybdate), at concentrations above 5 mg/litre, was lethal toT. ferrooxidans.
During thiosulphate oxidation, the tolerance to Zn, Ni and Co was greatly reduced, cobalt now being at least 2000 times more toxic, and the inhibitory levels of Zn and Ni being 600 mg Zn/litre and 150 mg Ni/litre.
During sulphur oxidation, the tolerance to heavy metals extended to concentrations above 5 g/litre.
Adaptation to Zn, Ni or Cu during iron oxidation was found to result in increased tolerance to some of the other metals also.
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We are grateful to Dr. D. P. Kelly for helpful suggestions and constructive criticism of the manuscript.
This study was supported by the Foundation for Research of Natural Resources in Finland and the National Research Council for Agriculture and Forestry. One of us (O.H.T.) is indebted to Osk. Huttunen Foundation for a grant enabling to the final stage of this investigation.
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Tuovinen, O.H., Niemelä, S.I. & Gyllenberg, H.G. Tolerance ofThiobacillus ferrooxidans to some metals. Antonie van Leeuwenhoek 37, 489–496 (1971). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02218519
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02218519