Different Applications of Sulphur Oxidizing Bacteria: A Review

Abstract

Sulphur (S) is an important component of organic matter. It is an essential macronutrient for plants, animals, microorganisms and humans. In both plants and humans, S comes after K, Ca and P in abundancy (Scherer, 2009). It is found in amino acids, which are building blocks of protein. Sulphur is also part of many other biologically active molecules found in reduced forms (Tandon and Messick, 2002; Kertesz and Mirleau, 2004; Jamal et al., 2010). All living organisms have requirement of S as an elemental component. Sulphur is taken up mostly in the form of sulphate, with further reduced to sulphide to form further necessary compounds. The average amount of sulphur content found in organisms is up to 0.2% of dry weight though some organisms use S compounds higher amounts in many ways like for anabolic processes, reducing power (electron donor), source of energy or as electron acceptor (Camacho, 2009).