• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.91-100
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• 1975

The chemolithoautotrophic bacteria, Freeobacillus ferroxidans and Thiobacillus thiooxidans were identified according to their immunological and serological properties. The antibody to these organisms was easily elicited in experimental animals, however, the overall serologicl reactivities were low according to different kinds of titration methods. By means of the quantitive and qualitative analysis such as hemagglutination or ouchterlony tests, F.ferroxidans and T. thiooxidans were different in their immunoreactivities, whereas the strains among the F.ferrooxidans were possessed, in some extent, the sharing antigenic determinants. In the results of the polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis/radioimmunometric method, the major antigenic determinants of the organisms illustrated the type specificitles in the fraction number of 20-30 in their gel electrophoretograms with some modifications of the antigenic moieties.

• Proceedings of the KSEEG Conference
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• 1999.04a
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• pp.276-278
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• 1999

• KSBB Journal
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.295-301
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• 2001

The leaching effect of Thiobacillus ferrooxidance (ATCC 19859) upon polished pyrite ore in 9K medium at $30^{circ}C$ for 30 days was investigated. The surface atomic ratios for Fe, S, Al, Si, and Cu were analyzed by EPMA using fresh and leached samples. The atomic ratio of Fe and S were changed to Fe rich phase as leaching progressed over 13 days but the Fe/S ratio became constant between 13 and 30 days. SEM imaging showed that $10\mum$ oblong shapes formed on the surface after 13 days and that these further developed until 23 days. Fe, S and K atomic ratios were analyzed by SEM-EDS.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.11 no.6
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• pp.1046-1054
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• 2001

Bioleaching is the process in which insoluble metal sulfide is oxidized by specialized iron- and/or sulfur-oxidizing lithotrophic bacteria in acidic, metal-rich environments. Most of these processes are carried out by the genus Thiobacillus. Three novel Thiobacillus strains (Thiobacillus thiooxidans AZ11, Thiobacillus thiooxidans MET, and thiobacillus thiooxidans TAS) associated with bioleaching have been isolated from soil and sludge (Korean patent No. 1999-0073060 for T. thiooxidans AZ11, Korean patent No. 1999-0005798 for T. thiooxidans MET, and Korean patent No. 1999-0073059 for T. thiooxidans TAS). A partial sequence of 16S ribosomal RNA gene (16S rDNA) and the entire sequence of 16S/23S intergenic spacer region (ISR) were determined in the three above novel strains and in Thiobacillus ferrooxidans ATCC19859 as a reference strain. When phylogenetic analysis was performed based on G+C contents and sequence alignments, T. ferroxidans ATCC19859 was found to be closely related to previously registered T. ferrooxidans strains in a monophyletic manner, while the three novel T. thiooxidans strains were classified in a paraphyletic manner. Close examination on the base composition of 16S/23S ISR revealed that the 5\` part (nucleotide residues 21-200) was specific for the genus Thiobacillus. On the other end, the 3\` part (nucleotide residues 201-520) showed specificity in T. ferrooxidans strains, but not in T. thiooxidans strains. These results suggest that the proximal and distal halves of 16S/23S could be used as a genetic marker for the identification of the genus Thiobacillus and the species T. ferrooxidans, respectively.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.54-60
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• 2001

The activity of microorganisms is an important factor that determines the efficiency of the bacterial recovery of precious metals from low-grade ore. Metal-leaching microorganisms must have a tolerance, within the concentration levels encountered to leached metals. In this study, the tolerance levels of Thiobacillus ferroxidans to the single and mixed metal ions systems, composed of $Zn^{2+}$, $Cu^{2+}$, $Ni^{2+}$, and $Cd^{2+}$ were investigated. When single metal ions of $Zn^{2+}$ (10~60 g/L), $Cu^{2+}$ (1~6 g/L), $Ni^{2+}$ (1~6 g/L), or $Cd^{2+}$ (1~6 g/L) were added to the growth medium of T. ferrooxidans, the iron oxidation rate of this bacterium was not significantly inhibited. The maximum inhibition percentage observed on the iron oxidation rate of T. ferrooxidans was approximately 50% in the medium supplemented with two or three mixed metal ions of $Cu^{2+}$, $Ni^{2+}$, and $Cd^{2+}$. However, when $Zn^{2+}$ was also added to the medium with the other metal ions, the inhibitory effect on the iron oxidation activity of T. ferroxidans was remarkably increased.

• Clean Technology
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.209-215
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• 2012

The performance and removal efficiencies of a pilot scale biofilter were estimated by using ammonia and hydrogen sulfide as the odorous gases. Expanded polyurethane foam coated with powdered activated carbon and zeolite was used as a biofilm supporting medium in the biofilter. Odorous gases from the sludge thickener of a municipal wastewater treatment plant were treated in the biofilter for 10 months and the inlet ammonia and hydrogen sulfide concentrations were 0.1-1.5 and 2-20 ppmv, respectively. The removal efficiencies reached about 100% at the empty bed retention time (EBRT) of 3.6-5 seconds except for the adaptation periods. The pressure drop of the biofilter caused by the gas flow was also low that the maximum attained was 31 mm $H_2O$ during the operation. Its stability was confirmed in the long term due to the fact that the biofilter and the polyurethane medium had a minimum plugging and compression. The microbial community on the medium is critical for the performance of the biofilter especially the distribution of ammonia oxidizing bacteria (AOB) and sulfur oxidizing bacteria (SOB). The distribution of Nitrosomonas sp. (AOB) and Thiobacillus ferroxidans (SOB) was confirmed by FISH (fluorescence in situ hybridization) analysis. The longer the operation time, the more microbial population observed. Also, the medium close to the gas inlet had more microbial population than the medium at the gas outlet of the biofilter.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.14 no.5
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• pp.585-592
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• 1999

This study was aimed to enhance the Fe(II) oxidation rate using immobilized cells of Thiobacillus ferroxidans. For this purpose, a medium for the minimization of jarosite formation was developed first. Secondly, cell immobilization in celite beads was carried out. And then, repeated-batch and continuous operatons of Fe(II) oxidation by using immobilization cells were performed. In a series of flask cultures, three types of media were tested: media with a much lower salt concentration than that of the 9K medium; media which contained different nitrogen sources from that of the 9K medium, that is $(NH_4)_2HPO_4$, $NH_4Cl and HNO$_3$; media which contained $(NH_4)_2HPO_4$ as nitrogen and phosphate source, but without $K_2HPO_4$ as nitrogen and phosphate source in the 9K medium. As a result, the M16 medium which contained 3 g/L of $(NH_4)_2HPO_4$ as nitrogen and phosphate source was found to be the optimal one. It sustained good cell growth allowing no jarosite formation. In the repeated-batch operations, the rate of Fe(II) oxidation gradually increased to reach a maximum value as the batch was repeated. As a result of repeated-batch operations. a maximum Fe(II) oxidation rate was 2.33 g/L . h. In the continuous operations, the iron oxidation rate could be increased to 2.14 g/L .h at a dilution rate of 0.25 $h^{-1}$ which is greater than the maximum specific growth rate (0.12 $h^{-1}$) of the bacteria.