Sulfur breathing

The sulfur respiration is a special form of anaerobic respiration . Elemental sulfur is reduced to hydrogen sulfide (H ₂ S). Thus, one also speaks of sulfur reduction. In contrast to aerobic respiration , elemental sulfur is used as an electron acceptor instead of molecular oxygen .

A number of anaerobic bacteria (e.g. Desulfuromonas acetoxidans ) and in particular thermophilic microorganisms (e.g. Thermoproteus tenax , Thermoproteus neutrophilus ) are capable of sulfur breathing .

Sulphate respiration is, in turn, the reduction of sulphate (HSO ₄ ^- ) to hydrogen sulphide (H ₂ S). Sulphate respiration is also known as desulphurication or dissimilatory sulphate reduction.

See also

• Sulfur oxidizing bacteria

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Hans-Dieter Jakubke, Ruth Karcher (coordinators): Lexikon der Chemie in three volumes, Spektrum Verlag, Heidelberg, Volume 3, 1999, ISBN 3-8274-0381-2 , p. 216.
2. ↑ Lexicon of Biology, Spectrum