The Identification of Sulfolobus Species from a Biocorrosion of Wastewater Pipes

One of the species which has a prominent role in the biocorrosion of wastewater pipes is Sulfolobus bacterium. This bacterium is among the iron oxidizing bacteria. Sulfolobus is from the archae bacteria genus, which provides its needed energy by oxidation of sulfur in warm and acidic environments. In this research, the water sample exist in the water supply pipelines at Sarcheshmeh copper mine was studied, sulfur corrosive bacteria were separated and identified and their biochemical activity was researched and studied and it was found that the target species are in fact Sulfolobus archae bacteria which have different enzymatic activities. Due to these enzymatic activities, a considerable amount of sulfur is accumulated on the cell surface. Based on various incubation environments, as a result of sulfur accumulation, Sulfolubos archae bacteria were identified, and after doing isolation and purification methods, number of colonies have been decrease from 10-1 dilution to 10-10 dilution and in sample with 10-1 dilution sample 200 colonies has been reported and in plate with 10-10 dilution no colonies has been observed.