Environmental Microbiology;
Geomicrobiology

• Utilization of chemical bond energy, oxidation - reduction (redox) reactions.
• Reduction potential (Eo) = tendency to take up or accept electrons.
• The electron tower and coupled reactions:

The carbon cycle and key groups of organisms:

• carbon dioxide fixation
• fermentation and anaerobic respiration
• methanogenesis and methanogenic archaea
• methane oxidation and methylotrophic bacteria

The nitrogen cycle and key groups of microorganisms:

• nitrification and Nitrosomonas, Nitrobacter etc
• denitrification
• nitrogen fixation, detection by acetylene reduction
• Rhizobium and symbiotic associations etc - free living nitrogen fixation

The sulphur cycle and key groups of microorganisms:

• sulphur oxidation and Thiobacillus etc
• sulphate reduction and Desulfovibrio etc
• Microorganisms and ore deposition
• Syngenetic and epigenetic sulphur ores.

• Present day depositional systems:
  

  

• Iron, manganese deposits and ferromanganese concentrations.
• Iron bacteria, Gallionella, Leptothrix.
• Microbial mining (Biohydrometallurgy)
• Thiobacillus ferrooxidans and others.
• Leach pile mining:
  
• Pollution with jarosites; HFe₃(SO₄)₂(OH)₆ ('yellowboy').

Microbiology
by L.M.Prescott et al.
A balanced, comprehensive introduction to all major areas of microbiology. The sixth edition has been updated extensively to reflect the latest discoveries in the field.
(Amazon.co.UK)

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