Sulfate sensor using Thiobacillus ferrooxidans

A novel microbial sensor for sulfate detection has been developed. Thiobacillus ferrooxidans was immobilized on an oxygen electrode and the relationship between the current decrease at the microbial electrode and the sulfate concentration was examined. The system consisted of a microbe electrode, a potentiometer and a recorder, which is simple and one tenth the cost of standard ion chromatography equipment. The response time, the optimal amount of microbe immobilized on the electrode, and the optimal temperature and pH were also examined. The lifetime of the sensor and the effect of possible coexisting ions in rain water is reported and the application of the system is discussed.