Nitrate-dependent anaerobic ferrous/iron oxidation microorganism: review on its species, distribution and characteristics

Abstract:

The process of nitrate-dependent anaerobic ferrous/iron oxidation (NAFO) is performed by specific microorganism, called nitrate-dependent anaerobic ferrous/iron oxidation microorganism (NAFOM), with nitrate/nitrite as electron acceptor and ferrous/iron as electron donor in anaerobic conditions. The discovery of NAFO is of great significance for the exploration of new microbial resources, the development of new denitrification techniques, and the new insight into Fe and N cycle in geoscience. In this paper, literatures about NAFO in recent decades were reviewed to analysis phylogeny, distribution, nutrition and metabolism of NAFOM. All the analysis aim at providing basis for discovering new NAFOM species, researching Fe and N cycle and optimizing NAFO process.