VITAMIN REQUIREMENT OF SULFATE-REDUCERS ISOLATED FROM SEWAGE DIGESTOR FLUIDS

Abstract

Certain nutritional requirements of isolates of sulfate-reducing bacteria were investigated. Isolates from environments other than digestors were able to grow and be maintained with 0.1% yeast extract, while the isolates from sewage digestors were not. The latter required sewage digestor fluid in addition to 0.1% yeast extract and the sewage digestor fluid could be replaced by yeast extract in higher concentrations for most of the strains. Vitamins, mainly biotin, in the sewage digestor fluids or yeast extract were found to act as growth factors for these strains. Some isolates from sewage digestors could not be maintained with yeast extract even in high concentrations and required sewage digestor fluid.