Anaerobic Metabolism of Thiocyanate by Thiobacilli

Abstract

IN 1904, Beijerinck¹ first described the decomposition of ammonium thiocyanate by Thiobacilli. Thirty-three years later, Happold and Key² reported the disappearance of thiocyanate from gas liquors due to microbial activity. The thiocyanate-oxidizing organism was only obtained in pure culture by Happold, Johnstone and Rogers³ in 1952. In a subsequent publication, Happold, Johnstone, Rogers and Youatt⁴ characterized the organism finally as a strict autotroph which aerobically oxidized thiocyanate to sulphate, carbon dioxide and ammonia. The organism grew with carbon dioxide as sole source of carbon, and could derive its energy from the oxidation of sulphur and thiosulphate with oxygen as oxidant. The name Thiobacillus thiocyanoxidans was suggested.