lithoautotroph

Lithoautotrophs are organisms, primarily bacteria, that synthesize their own cellular components using carbon dioxide as their carbon source. They generate energy by oxidizing inorganic compounds, such as ammonia, sulfur, or iron, with oxygen as the electron acceptor. This process is known as chemoautotrophy.123

Unlike photoautotrophs (like plants) that use sunlight for energy, lithoautotrophs rely on chemical reactions involving inorganic substances. Examples include bacteria that oxidize ammonia to nitrite (Nitrosomonas) or ferrous ions to ferric ions (A. ferrooxidans). These organisms are crucial primary producers in certain ecosystems, forming the base of food chains by converting inorganic matter into organic compounds that other organisms can consume.231