Isolation, identification and arsenic-resistance of Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans HX3 producing schwertmannite

Schwertmannite, a ubiquitous mineral present in iron oxyhydroxides formed in iron- and sulfate-rich acid media, favors incorporation of some toxic anions in its structure. We reported an iron-oxidizing bacterial strain HX3 from a municipal sludge that facilitates the formation of pure schwertmannite in cultures. Ferrous iron oxidation by the isolated strain HX3 was optimum at an initial pH of 2.0–3.3 and temperature of 28–35°C. Pure schwertmannite was found through bacterial oxidation of ferrous iron at an initial pH 2.8 and temperature 28°C. Following 16S rDNA gene sequence analysis the bacterial strain HX3 was identified as Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans. The arsenic-resistance A. ferrooxidans HX3 showed the potential of environmental application in arsenic removal from the As(III)- and iron-rich acid sulfate waters directly by As(III) adsorption or the formation of schwertmannite in the environment.