Thiobacillus concretivorus

The aerobic bacteria responsible for this oxidation of hydrogen sulfide to sulfuric acid belong to the aerobic and autotrophic Thiobacillus family (Sand, 1987 Milde et al., 1983). These bacteria may be active at rather low pH values. Thiobacillus concretivorus is active at pH values between about 0.5 and 5 and may produce solutions of sulfuric acid up to about 7%. To be active, it requires that other species of the Thiobacillus family bring down the pH value. 

Two of the species, Thiobacillus concretivorus and Thiobacillus neapolitanus, are, in addition to sulfide, also able to use thiosulfate and elemental sulfur as energy sources. 

Parker, C.D. (1945b), The corrosion of concrete 2. The function of Thiobacillus concretivorus (nov. spec.) in the corrosion of concrete exposed to atmospheres containing hydrogen sulphide, Aust. J. Expt. Biol. Med. Sci., 23, 91-98. 

Corrosion of concrete by bacteria that oxidize sulfur compounds into sulfuric acid was reported by Parker (1945, 1947) and has been examined more recently by Fjerdingstad (1969). The lowest pH is tolerated by Thiobacillus concretivorus Parker (pH 2.75 + 0.42) and T. thiooxidans Waksman and Joffe (pH 2.35 0.32). Within 100 days of incubation in a T. thiooxidans culture, 60% of a 3.6 g block of concrete were dissolved. Bacterial destructive activity has also been established on buildings and monuments (Krum-... 

Mori T, Nonaka T, Tazaki K, Koga M, Hikosaka Y, Noda S (1992) Interactions of nutrients, moisture and pH on microbial corrosion on concrete sewer pipes. Wat Res 26 29-37 Moriarty DJW, Nicholas DJD (1970) Electron transfer during sulphide and sulphite oxidation by Thiobacillus concretivorus. Biochim Biophys Acta 216 130-138 Morikawa M, Imanaka T (1993) Isolation of a new mixotrophic bacterium which can fix C02 and assimilate aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons anaerobically. J Ferment Bioeng 76 280-283... 

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