Reduction of EDTA-chelated Fe(III) is one of the core processes in the BioDeNOx process, a chemically enhanced technique for biological NOx removal from industrial flue gases. The capacity of Escherichia coli, three mixed cultures from full scale methanogenic granular sludge reactors, one denitrifying sludge, and a BioDeNOx sludge to reduce Fe(III)EDTA- (25 mM) was determined at 37 and 55 degrees C using batch experiments. Addition of catalytic amounts of sulfide greatly accelerated Fe(III)EDTA- reduction, indicating that biological Fe(III)EDTA- reduction is not a direct, enzymatic conversion but an indirect reduction with involvement of an electron-mediating compound, presumably polysulfides. It is suggested that not thermophilic dissimilatory iron-reducing bacteria but reducers of elemental sulfur or polysulfides are primarily involved in the reduction of EDTA-chelated Fe(III) in BioDeNOx reactors.