Oxidation kinetics and chemostat growth kinetics of Thiobacillus ferrooxidans on tetrathionate and thiosulfate

Growth of Thiobacillus ferrooxidans in batch culture on 10 mM potassium tetrathionate was optimal at pH 2.5 (specific growth rate, 0.092 h-1). Oxygen electrode studies on resting cell suspensions showed that the apparent Km for tetrathionate oxidation (0.13 to 8.33 mM) was pH dependent, suggesting higher substrate affinity at higher pH. Conversely, oxidation rates were greatest at low pH. High substrate concentrations (7.7 to 77 mM) did not affect maximum oxidation rates at pH 3.0, but produced substrate inhibition at other pH values. Tetrathionate-grown cell suspensions also oxidized thiosulfate at pH 2.0 to 4.0. Apparent Km values (1.2 to 25 mM) were of the same order as for tetrathionate, but kinetics were complex. Continuous culture on growth-limiting tetrathionate at pH 2.5, followed by continuous culture on growth-limiting thiosulfate at pH 2.5, indicated true growth yield values (grams [dry weight] per gram-molecule of substrate) of 12.2 and 7.5, and maintenance coefficient values (millimoles of substrate per gram [dry weight) of organisms per hour) of 1.01 and 0.97 for tetrathionate and thiosulfate, respectively. Yield was increased on both media at low dilution rates by increase in CO2 supply. The apparent maintenance coefficient was lowered without affecting YG, suggesting better energy coupling in CO2-rich environments. Prolonged continuous cultivation on tetrathionate or thiosulfate did not affect the ability of the organism to grow subsequently in ferrous iron medium.