Bacterial pyrite oxidation. II. The effect of various organic substances on release of iron from pyrite by Thiobacillus ferrooxidans.

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Abstract
The role of T. thiooxidans in the enhancement of pyrite oxidation by mixtures of T. ferrooxidans and T. thiooxidans was examined. Oxidation of pyrite by T. ferrooxidans was remarkably enhanced by addition of dead cell suspensions and cell-free extracts of both chemolithotrophic thiobacilli and heterotrophic bacteria. The same promoting effect on bacterial pyrite oxidation was recognized with various substances such as protein, nucleic acid, yeast extract, peptone, and surface-active agent. Thus, enhancement of bacterial pyrite oxidation by intact cells of T. thiooxidans is attributed, at least partly, to organic substances excreted by T. thiooxidans cells into the pyrite medium. Evidently, cellular organic substances have a physico-chemical effect on the direct interaction between Fe-oxidizing bacteria and solid particles.
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