Biochemical study of the microbiological formation of elemental sulphur in coastal areas

Abstract

A microbiological study of samples of soils collected from the sulphur area at different depths has been conducted. Methods of isolating the organisms and modifications adopted are described in detail.

Detailed and comprehensive studies on the nutritional requirements of the organism have been carried out with special reference to: (a) sources of carbon, which include simple sugars, more complex polysaccharides, fatty acids, and sugar alcohols; (b) sources of nitrogen, including proteins, protein hydrolysates, and each of the amino acids.

The amino acid composition of the fermented beer and that of the bacterial cell proteins obtained by growing the organism in a synthetic medium containing ammonium lactate as the only source of nitrogen has been elucidated. The one? and two?dimensional papyrographic procedures adopted for the purpose are described.

Quantitative studies on the rate of utilisation of glucose and lactate, and the assimilation of nitrogen from ammonium lactate, have been carried out. The rate of reduction of sulphate by the organism has also been measured.

Pot experiments and field trials have been conducted with a view to reconstruct and reproduce the series of reactions which occur under natural conditions and which have led to the formation of sulphur.