Abstract
Bacillus 29, previously isolated from a ferromanganese nodule, and a derivative strain,Bacillus 29A, were examined for their iron-solubilizing ability when reducing limonite, goethite and hematite with glucose.Bacillus 29A was the more active of the two cultures. It solubilized larger amounts of iron from limonite and goethite than from hematite. Several lines of evidence indicated that the mechanism by whichBacillus 29A carried out iron solubilization from limonite involved enzymatic reduction of the ferric iron in the mineral. Phenosafranin enhanced the reduction of the iron oxides by growing cultures, but anaerobiosis did not.
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We wish to thank D. S. Miller for giving permission and T. F. Schwarzer and E. Gavish for assistance in the use of the atomic absorption spectrophotometer in the Geology Department, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.
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de Castro, A.F., Ehrlich, H.L. Reduction of iron oxide minerals by a marine Bacillus. Antonie van Leeuwenhoek 36, 317–327 (1970). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02069033
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02069033