SULPHUR BACTERIA Meaning and
Definition
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Sulphur bacteria, also known as sulfur bacteria, are a group of microorganisms that thrive in environments rich in hydrogen sulfide (H2S) gas or other sulfur compounds. They are part of the larger group of bacteria known as chemolithotrophs, meaning they obtain energy from inorganic substances.
Sulphur bacteria are classified into two major groups: the sulfur oxidizers and sulfur reducers. Sulfur-oxidizing bacteria use H2S or elemental sulfur as a source of energy, converting it into sulfate (SO42-). In the process, they release sulfuric acid, which can be harmful to the environment and cause acidification. These bacteria play a significant role in the sulfur cycle, as they contribute to the conversion of sulfide into sulfate, thus recycling sulfur in ecosystems.
On the other hand, sulfur reducers are anaerobic bacteria that use sulfate as an electron acceptor in the absence of oxygen. They convert sulfate into sulfide, contributing to the production of H2S gas. Sulfur-reducing bacteria are commonly found in anaerobic environments such as sediments, swamps, and deep-sea hydrothermal vents.
Sulphur bacteria display different morphologies and include various species such as Thiobacillus, Desulfovibrio, and Beggiatoa, among others. They are ecologically and industrially significant. Ecologically, they play a crucial role in the elemental sulfur and sulfur compounds' transformation in natural environments. Industrially, they have applications in wastewater treatment, metal bioleaching, and desulfurization of fuels.
Common Misspellings for SULPHUR BACTERIA
- aulphur bacteria
- zulphur bacteria
- xulphur bacteria
- dulphur bacteria
- eulphur bacteria
- wulphur bacteria
- sylphur bacteria
- shlphur bacteria
- sjlphur bacteria
- silphur bacteria
- s8lphur bacteria
- s7lphur bacteria
- sukphur bacteria
- supphur bacteria
- suophur bacteria
- sulohur bacteria
- sullhur bacteria
- sul-hur bacteria
- sul0hur bacteria
Etymology of SULPHUR BACTERIA
The word "Sulphur Bacteria" is composed of two terms - "sulphur" and "bacteria".
1. Sulphur: The term "sulphur" is derived from the Latin word "sulfur", which ultimately originates from the Sanskrit word "sulvere". It has been used in various languages with similar spellings and pronunciations. The concept of sulphur has been known for thousands of years, and it has been used since ancient times for various purposes, including medicine, alchemy, and as a natural element.
2. Bacteria: The term "bacteria" comes from the Greek word "bakterion", which means "small rod" or "staff". This term was coined by German microbiologist Ferdinand Cohn in 1854.
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