Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans
Quick Summary
Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans is an acidophilic, lithotrophic bacterium that plays a significant role in the oxidation of ferrous iron to ferric iron in acidic environments. This process is crucial in the formation of acid mine drainage, where the bacterium thrives in highly acidic conditions, sometimes near a pH of 2.1
This bacterium's ability to oxidize iron is also harnessed for the microbial leaching of valuable metals like copper and uranium from low-grade ores. A. ferrooxidans can tolerate high concentrations of various metal ions, including iron, copper, cobalt, nickel, and zinc. While it primarily uses inorganic compounds for energy, it is unable to significantly utilize organic compounds.12
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