Isolation and characterization of Pseudomonas stutzeri QZ1 from an anoxic sulfide-oxidizing bioreactor

Bacterial strain QZ1 was isolated from sludge of anoxic sulfide-oxidizing (ASO) reactor. Based on 16S rDNA sequence analysis and morphological characteristics, the isolate was identified as Pseudomonas stutzeri. The isolate was found to be a facultative chemolithotroph, using sulfide as electron donor and nitrite as electron acceptor. The strain QZ1 produced sulfate as the major product of sulfide oxidation, depending on the initial sulfide and nitrite concentrations. The isolate was capable of growth under strictly autotrophic conditions. The growth and substrate removal of Pseudomonas stutzeri QZ1 were optimal at an initial pH of 7.5–8.0 at 30 °C. The specific growth rate (μ) was found as 0.035 h−1 with a doubling time of 21.5 h. For isolate QZ1, the EC50 values both for sulfide and nitrite were found to be 335.95 mg S L−1 and 512.38 mg N L−1, respectively, showing that the sulfide oxidation into sulfate by Pseudomonas stutzeri QZ1 was badly affected beyond these substrate concentrations.