18O incorporation into sulphate during the bacterial oxidation of sulphide minerals and the potential for oxygen isotope exchange between O2, H2O and oxidized sulphur intermediates

https://doi.org/10.1016/0012-821X(91)90045-JGet rights and content

Abstract

Experiments were conducted using18O-enriched oxygen or water in an attempt to determine the source of oxygen incorporated into the sulphate ions produced during the bacterial oxidation of a metal sulphide. The initial results indicated that18O2 was incorporated into water and sulphate in the presence of the metal sulphide andT. ferrooxidans. The incorporation of18O into H2O can occur via bacterial respiration and potentially also by oxygen isotope exchange. Subsequent experiments using sulphite oxidase to oxidize sulphite to sulphate in the presence of18O-enriched oxygen or water indicate that oxygen isotope exchange between O2 and water is not mediated by the sulphite oxidase system.

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