Sulfur-driven autotrophic denitrification: diversity, biochemistry, and engineering applications

Appl Microbiol Biotechnol. 2010 Nov;88(5):1027-42. doi: 10.1007/s00253-010-2847-1. Epub 2010 Sep 1.

Abstract

Sulfur-driven autotrophic denitrification refers to the chemolithotrophic process coupling denitrification with the oxidation of reduced inorganic sulfur compounds. Ever since 1904, when Thiobacillus denitrificans was isolated, autotrophic denitrifiers and their uncultured close relatives have been continuously identified from highly diverse ecosystems including hydrothermal vents, deep sea redox transition zones, sediments, soils, inland soda lakes, etc. Currently, 14 valid described species within α-, β-, γ-, and ε-Proteobacteria have been identified as capable of autotrophic denitrification. Autotrophic denitrification is also widely applied in environmental engineering for the removal of sulfide and nitrate from different water environments. This review summarizes recent researches on autotrophic denitrification, highlighting its diversity, metabolic traits, and engineering applications.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Anaerobiosis
  • Autotrophic Processes*
  • Carbon Cycle
  • Chemoautotrophic Growth*
  • Denitrification*
  • Ecosystem
  • Fresh Water
  • Geologic Sediments
  • Nitrates / metabolism*
  • Nitrogen / metabolism
  • Nitrogen Cycle
  • Oxidation-Reduction
  • Phylogeny
  • Proteobacteria / classification
  • Proteobacteria / growth & development
  • Proteobacteria / metabolism*
  • RNA, Ribosomal, 16S
  • Sulfur* / metabolism
  • Waste Disposal, Fluid / methods
  • Water Purification / methods

Substances

  • Nitrates
  • RNA, Ribosomal, 16S
  • Sulfur
  • Nitrogen