Economic importance of sulphur bacteria

Abstract

Microbes, through their specialized metabolic processes and ecologies, play a fundamental part in man’s economy, and their economic roles are widely recognized as important. The sulphur bacteria have had in past geological eras, and are having today, numerous and diverse effects, often deleterious, scattered throughout the economy. Many of their economic roles are not widely known. Their economic and environmental effects arise, according to the type or combination of species involved, principally from (1) the production of acid, (2) the formation or removal of hydrogen sulphide, and (3) the removal of oxygen. In this paper their various effects on industry and the environment are surveyed.

Physiology and ecology of the sulphate‐reducing bacteria

“…Sulphatereducing bacteria are environmentally important micro-organisms. Their influences can be divided into ecological and economic effects (Postgate 1982). Probably the most significant aspect of their metabolism is the production of H,S, which, being a very strong reducing agent, is able to inhibit the growth of certain aerobic micro-organisms, Conversely, H,S plays an important role in the natural environment in that it functions as an electron donor for the growth of some sulphur bacteria.…”

“…The processes in which sulphate-reducing bacteria are able to impinge on man's economy have been reviewed on many occasions (Postgate 1960(Postgate , 1965(Postgate , 1982(Postgate , 1984LeGall & Postgate 1973). These involve the areas of water, soil and sand pollution; waste purification; mineral deposit formation; gas contamination; paper technology; food spoilage; animal nutrition; and various other biotechnological effects.…”

Un cas de corrosion biologique en eau de bassin portuaire

“…Les cas les plus spectaculaires de corrosion induite par les bactéries sulfo-oxydantes, essentiellement les thiobacilles, ont été observés sur des bétons ou des pierres [6], [7], [10], [12). Toutefois dans certains environnements ce sont des métaux, ferreux ou non, qui subissent des conséquences de leur métabolisme.…”

“…C'est cet acide qui est alors cause de la corrosion, éventuellement aggravée par les sels de fer produits si des pyrites servent de substrat. La détérioration de matériaux contenant du soufre natif peut être aussi causée par des thiobacilles qui l'utilisent alors directement [10).…”