Thiobacillus (Noun)
Meaning
Small rod-shaped bacteria living in sewage or soil and oxidizing sulfur.
Classification
Nouns denoting animals.
Examples
- Thiobacillus are a type of bacteria commonly found in sewage treatment plants where they play a crucial role in breaking down sulfur compounds.
- In soil contaminated with sulfur compounds, Thiobacillus can oxidize the sulfur to sulfates which can then be leached away by rainwater.
- The presence of Thiobacillus in a soil or sewage sample can often be confirmed by the existence of acid mine drainage, which they produce as a byproduct.
- Certain strains of Thiobacillus have been found to thrive in environments with high concentrations of sulfur compounds such as hot springs or volcanic regions.
- In an effort to clean up polluted environments, scientists have used Thiobacillus to oxidize and remove toxic sulfur compounds from contaminated soil and water.