Cell hydrophobicity and sulfur adhesion of Thiobacillus thiooxidans

Thiobacillus thiooxidans cells became more hydrophobic but less adhesive to elemental sulfur in the presence of increasing potassium phosphate concentrations. At a fixed concentration of potassium phosphate, however, there mas a peak of both cell hydrophobicity and adhesion to sulfur at around pH 5. Oxidation of sulfur by the cells was affected in a complex manner by the phosphate concentration and pH, although it was inhibited by a high concentration of potassium phosphate.