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Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans
1media/Screen Shot 2022-08-01 at 9.39.46 AM_thumb.png2022-08-01T18:19:23+00:00Meltem Genc43c92ac685bee329191e83b98a0509c517fd1d5013Bacteria found in AMDplain2022-08-01T18:26:32+00:00Dennis Kunkel MicroscopyMeltem Genc43c92ac685bee329191e83b98a0509c517fd1d50
Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans is one of the acidophiles that play role and are important generators in Acid Mine Drainage. In AMD, acidophilic microorganisms survive in highly acidic environments and accelerate sulfide dissolution. Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans prefer pH levels between 1.5 and 2.5 and they cannot survive in neutral pH environments. They are also chemolithoautotrophs; they make their own food out of inorganic compounds, which are from rocks.
A. ferrooxidans can be considered as “rock-eaters”. They aerobically respire using Fe3+ as an electron acceptor instead of oxygen and S- as the electron donor instead of glucose. They latch onto pyrite, and secrete an enzyme that dissolves it.
