Table 3.
Specific rates of ferric iron reduction by heterotrophic (Acidiphilium) and autotrophic (Acidithiobacillus spp.) acidophiles.
| Bacterium | Growth conditions (incubation time) | Fe3+ reduction (mg min-1 g protein−1) |
|---|---|---|
| A. cryptum SJH | Glycerol/Fe3+ | 32 ± 3.7 |
| Galactose/Fe3+ | 40 ± 8.0 | |
| At. ferrooxidansT | H2/O2 (7 days) | 46 ± 10 |
| H2/O2 (21 days) | 23 ± 5.0 | |
| H2/Fe3+* (5 days) | 84 ± 2.3 | |
| Acidithiobacillus | H2/O2 (7 days) | 63 ± 7.3 |
| sp. ATCC 33020 | H2/O2 (21 days) | 53 ± 1.9 |
| H2/Fe3+* (5 days) | 76 ± 2.1 |
*Cultures grown under anoxic conditions; the electron donors used to grow the acidophiles (glycerol, galactose, or hydrogen) were also those used for the measurements of specific rates of ferric iron reduction.