Jornal de Engenharia Bioquímica e Tecnologia de Bioprocessos

The Microorganism Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans can use Electrical Current as a Direct and Sole Energy Source

Dimitre G Karamanev

Objective: It is well known that there are two main groups of living organisms in terms of their energy source: chemotrophs and phototrophs. Recently it has been shown that some living organisms, and in particular, microorganisms, could use electrical current as both a sole energy source and as an electron donor. This, third group of organisms, was named electro trophs.The main goal of this work is to prove that the microorganism Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans can live in electro trophic mode.

Methods: A novel electro bioreactor was designed and built in order to supply microorganisms with electrical current (electrons) as an electron donor.

Results and Conclusion: The experimental results reported here show for the first time that the aerobic microorganism Acidothiobacillus ferrooxidans, can live in an electro trophic mode.