Microbial sulfur metabolism and environmental implications

Sulfur as a macroelement plays an important role in biochemistry in both natural environments and engineering biosystems, which can be further linked to other important element cycles, e.g. carbon, nitrogen and iron. Conse-quently, the sulfur cycling primarily mediated by sulfur compounds oxidizing microorganisms and sulfur com-pounds reducing microorganisms has enormous environmental implications, particularly in wastewater treatment and pollution bioremediation. In this review, to connect the knowledge in microbial sulfur metabolism to environmental applications, we first comprehensively review recent advances in understanding microbial sul-fur metabolisms at molecular-, cellular-and ecosystem-levels, together with their energetics. We then discuss the environmental implications to fight against soil and water pollution, with four foci: (1) acid mine drainage, (2) water blackening and odorization in urban rivers, (3) SANI (R) and DS-EBPR processes for sewage treatment, and (4) bioremediation of persistent organic pollutants. In addition, major challenges and further developments toward elucidation of microbial sulfur metabolisms and their environmental applications are identified and discussed. (c) 2021 Published by Elsevier B.V.

Automated summary

Sulfur, as a macroelement, plays a significant role in biochemistry in various environments and systems, interconnected with carbon, nitrogen, and iron cycles. The sulfur cycling mediated by microorganisms has important implications for environmental applications, especially in wastewater treatment and pollution bioremediation. The review comprehensively discusses recent advances in microbial sulfur metabolism and their environmental implications, focusing on challenges and developments for further understanding and application.